Paul in Greece – Neapolis

Read: Acts 16:9-12 & Revelation 21:9-27 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/acts/16.html)
 
Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke left Troas by boat and sailed to the island of Samothrace, where they spent the night. Homer wrote that Poseidon watched the Battle of Troy from Mount Phengari, the highest point on Samothrace (5,328 feet). Samothrace was also the religious center of a Thracian mystery cult that was popular through the 2nd century AD.
 
After spending the night at Samothrace our band of believers set sail for the mainland coastal city of Neapolis. This can be another confusing place name because there were several Greco-Roman cities with the name Neapolis – which means “New City.” This particular Neapolis served as the port city of Philippi (Paul & friend’s immediate destination) and was sometimes considered part of Macedonia and sometimes part of Thrace.
 
We did not go into Neapolis (which is now called Kavala). There is a Byzantine castle and an aqueduct built by Suleiman II on the peninsula where Paul & friends would have landed. The modern city has spread onto the mainland as well and the few remnants of ancient Neapolis that have been discovered are now displayed in the Archeological Museum of Kavala. We stopped at a good overlook point to stretch our legs and take a few photographs of Neapolis and the Via Egnatia which connected Neapolis to Philippi and rest of the Roman Empire.
 
One day you and I will live in a New City!