Philippi
Where is Philippi? An ancient city near Kavala in Greece, where Paul founded his first church in Europe and Lydia was baptized, with its chapters.
- Today
- Near Krinides, Kavala, Greece
- Country
- Greece
- Status
- Archaeological site: Philippi (UNESCO, 2016)
- Identification
- Certain
Philippi was an important city in Macedonia with the status of a Roman colony. After a night vision in which a man pleaded, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!", Paul sailed from Troas, landed at Neapolis (today's Kavala) and came here. By the river outside the city, Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, believed and was baptized with her household. Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed; when an earthquake struck at midnight, the jailer and his household were baptized too. Paul later wrote the joyful letter to the Philippians to the church here.
Read the chapters
- Acts 16
The chapter where the message first reaches Europe — in Philippi, a home opened by a woman, a household coming to faith, and two prisoners who keep their hope even in jail.
- Acts 20
- Philippians 1
- Philippians 4
A chapter on joy and inner peace, teaching contentment in every situation, prayer instead of anxiety, and trust in God's peace.
- 1 Thessalonians 2
Related topics
Related people
- Paul
- Peter
- Barnabas
- Stephen
- Lydia
- Matthew
- Timothy
- John the Apostle
- Philip the Apostle
- Judas Iscariot
- Mark
Related verse collections
- Bible Verses About Prayer
- Bible Verses About Fear and Anxiety
- Bible Verses About Thankfulness
- Bible Verses About Salvation
- Bible Verses About Courage
- Bible Verses About Repentance
- Bible Verses About Money and Contentment
- Bible Verses About Humility
- Bible Verses About Generosity
- Bible Verses About Jesus
- Bible Verses About Holiness
- Bible Verses About Faithfulness
- Bible Verses About Witness
- Bible Verses About New Beginnings
- Bible Verses About Joy
- Bible Verses About Peace and Rest
- Bible Verses About Work and Labor
- Bible Verses About Friendship
Reading plans
- The Bible for Beginners — 10 Days
- The Early Church Through Acts — 28 Days
- The Bible in a Year — 365 Days from Cover to Cover
- 30 Days with the Gospel — An Introduction to the New Testament
Related guides
- What Is Baptism?
What is baptism, what does it mean and where does it appear in the Bible? A short, neutral guide to the meaning of baptism and its place in the Gospels.
Books
Places in the Bible
Where is Philippi, and which country is it in today?
Philippi today is an archaeological site in Greece, about 15 km northwest of the city of Kavala, near the village of Krinides. The first church Paul founded in Europe was born here; Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, was baptized by the river outside the city (Acts 16:13-15). The site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2016, with the remains of the forum, the theatre and early Christian basilicas. A baptistery by the nearby stream commemorates Lydia's baptism.
What happened in Philippi?
According to Acts 16, Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, was baptized in Philippi with her household (Acts 16:14-15). Paul and Silas were thrown into prison; at midnight an earthquake opened the prison doors and the jailer was baptized with all his household (Acts 16:26, 16:33).
Why was the letter to the Philippians written?
Paul wrote the letter while in chains (Philippians 1:13) and thanked the church in Philippi for the help they had sent him (Philippians 4:15-16). One of its main calls is to rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4).