In response to a vision St. Paul brought his missionary zeal into Europe, into Greece. In this new environment he finds he will not be able to operate as he had in the past. Philippi, his first stopping point, was a Roman city, that is a place where retired Roman soldiers have settled. Apparently there was no synagogue in the town so Paul could not begin his preaching ministry among the Jews. On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. Once there he discovered another difference — women were going to assume leadership in the Christian movement. Lydia heeded the message of Paul and gathered the first believers in her house.
MAY102021
By Church Staff