Well, today is our last day here in Greece, the last full
day of our tour. We begin by going to the Roman Forum in Thessaloniki where
Paul would have preached. This forum was active from the 1st centure
BC to the 3rd centure AD. The synagogue here was used from 2nd
century BC to 1943 the time of the Holocaust. Sobering once again to stand in
these places that have so much Biblical significance and history. It was here at this place that I was given the
blessed opportunity to read Acts 17:1-9 about Paul’s short ministry in Thessalonica
where he went to the Jewish synagogue “and on three Sabbaths reasoned with them
from the Scriptures...then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and
Silas, including a great number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of
the leading women.” I LOVE the fact that leading women were leading others to
the Scriptures by leading by example! : )
But after this, the Jews became jealous and a riot happened in the city
after that and it was then that Paul and Silas went off to Berea when it was
night, to escape these Jews. While we
were here, I also read from 1
Thessalonians 5 where Paul talked about the Day of the Lord and where the theme
verse for the study comes from “You are all children of the light and children
of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” 1 Thess. 5:5. So
that was super special to read that here! : )
In verses 16-22 are what people call the ‘karate chops of faith’ ...”Rejoice
always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for
you in Christ Jesus. Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but
test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.” Verse 23-24 go on to say “Now may the God of
peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be
kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls
you is faithful, who also will do it.” So much is packed into those verses and
we couldn’t had a whole morning sermon on them, but we didn’t. :)
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| what the forum would have looked like in Paul's day |
After we had this meaningful time in the Scriptures, we
stopped in to see a beautiful church a block away from the forum. Incredible
paintings once again! If I remember correctly, it is the Church of Alexandria.
? :)
From here, we drove on the bus for a couple hours to go to
Philippi. We stopped at the coastal city called ____ where the Apostle Paul
would have come in on the ship and walked along the Roman Road to go to
Thessalonica. So amazing to see that Roman Road! These roads that the Romans
had built so that they would have easy access to all the major centers, also
was the road that quickly spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I can just see him
walking there, can’t you? :)
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| loved seeing the goats/sheep out in the fields with their shepherd |
At Philippi we read the passage from Acts 16:40 about Paul
and Silas in prison in Philippi, the midnight deliverance while they singing in
jail and the jailer and his whole household becoming believers and being
baptized, the official apology and Paul and Silas being released then going to
Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the believers before leaving the
city to go to Thessalonica. Wow! I can’t tell you how meaningful it was to be
reading all of these Scriptures at all of these places and having such new
insight as to the circumstances that Paul and Silas would have been in or came
from when they arrived at each place. Fascinating! It makes the Bible come
alive in such a new way! Wow! Wow! Wow!
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