Paul in Greece – Cenchreae

Read: Acts 18:18-23 & 2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:10 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/acts/18.html)
 
Like Athens and Philippi, the city of Corinth had three parts: the city itself, its port, and its acropolis. In Athens the acropolis has become more famous than the city, at least for those of us who do not live in Greece. In Philippi the port of Neapolis has now become the city of Kavala and it is much larger than Philippi ever was. In Corinth the city, the port, and the acropolis are all archeological sites.
 
Corinth, being located on an isthmus, actually had two ports: one to the west; and, one on the east. The western port was close to the city and was attached to the city by a fortified causeway. The western port was called Lechaion. The eastern port was called Cenchreae. Over the centuries earthquakes, storms, and wave action have moved most of the remains of both of these ports below sea level but we did get to visit the remains of Cenchreae on the Saronic Gulf.
 
There was one other “port” that belonged to Corinth: the Diolkos. The Diolkos was a paved trackway that connected the two sides of the isthmus. It was built as early as the 7th century BC and may have been still operating during Paul’s time in Corinth. Small ships could be loaded onto this rudimentary form of a railroad and pulled across the isthmus to the other side. Larger ships would unload their cargoes at either Lecaion or Cenchreae and pay to have their cargo hauled across the isthmus to a ship on the other side. All of this was done to save the time and the danger of sailing cargo and passengers around the southern tip of the Peleponnese.
 
Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla embarked from Cenchreae and sailed to Ephesus, either directly or by way of Thessalonica and Philippi. Paul went on alone from Ephesus to Caesarea and Antioch before starting his third missionary journey.
 
The Bible is very clear that as Christians we should consider ourselves to be citizens of heaven. How do you feel about going home?