Our experience at Neapolis, modern-day Kavala, Greece. 

 

During Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey, Acts 16 tells us about Paul landing on the shores of Macedonia (Upper Greece) for the very first time. 

 

 

As we stood and looked far in the distance across the waters of the Aegean Sea, we envisioned the city of Troas. We tried to imagine Paul standing on the other side of the sea, looking in our direction as we were looking in his direction. He had received an unexpected vision of a man from Macedonia motioning to him and telling him to “Come“. Come and tell them about Jesus and the Salvation He provides.

 

We could imagine Paul immediately gathering his things and setting sail, along with his companions Silas, Timothy, and the newest addition to their travels that they had picked up, Dr. Luke, the writer of the detailed Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.

 

For some weird reason, I felt like I wanted to wave to Paul across the waters as he started in our direction. To say “hellooooooo!” To tell him that I see him. To somehow thank him for what he was about to do because he would make a huge difference in so many lives. To let him know that his journey would be effective for the glory of God. And perhaps, to also warn him of the troubles to come. He would go through some really tough things and would suffer some incredibly hard things. My “wave” to him would not be intended to discourage him, because it would not. He was extremely determined to spread the Gospel no matter the cost and he knew the cost was great. But that my “wave” to him would somehow, be a small joining-of-forces with him in his mission ahead. A small jester to let him know that I was with him, I was on his side. I supported what he was doing. I was praying for him. “Come!“

 

It took Paul and his crew only two days to sail across the sea from Asia Minor to Macedonia, which was actually extremely good traveling time in a boat, because at a later date it took him five days to make the same route. The waters were always unpredictable, just like the journey ahead.

 

I just wonder what was going through Paul’s mind as he saw the beautiful hillside landscape of Greece for the first time. He would have had his eyes wide open, taking it all in, seeing everything he could see, smelling all the smells of the new land as he quickly pulled his boat into the port, and set foot on the shore. He was truly answering the MACEDONIAN CALL. (“I have heard the Macedonian call today. Send the Light. Send the Light“. Sing it if you know it!) The call was to go and tell the world of the Good News, the very thing that Paul was passionate.

 

Whatever the emotions that he was feeling at the time, emotions of uncertainty, anticipation, wonder, anxiousness, etc., I feel fully confident that he was beyond excited and ready to share the gospel. I bet that his feet barely touched the ground before he was half a mile down the road. I can just see him! Walking as fast as his short legs would let him. Probably smiling and leading the group in a chorus of “I got the joy, joy, joy joy down in my heart!” As Silas and Timothy reply, “Where?“. Of course, good-old Luke, the no-nonsense doctor, would probably be rolling his eyes and shaking his head, wondering who this motley crew of characters were and what he had gotten himself into. But, down the road they would all go. Side by side. Happy to be doing the Lord’s work as they traveled down the “Via Egnatia”.

 

We loved that we were able to see such a beautiful and well preserved stretch of this ancient Roman road. It was paved with large stone slabs covered with a hard layer of sand which turned into a sort of concrete, making it able to handle the weight of horses, carts and chariots. Built during the Roman Empire during the 2nd century BC, this road is still standing the test of time. (Better than some of our current roads) This road was around 700 miles in total length which began in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), and ended, of course, in Rome. Why? Because “all roads lead to Rome”. Which is actually, a fairly true statement. Rome had a plan to do just that.  To connect all of the ancient world together and lead everyone to the glorious empire of Rome. What they did not realize at the time was that they, the Romans, were actually aiding in making the world assessible to the spread of the Gospel. Thanks Caesar! You thought you were doing it for your glory when in actuality it was for the glory of God. Thank you for that!

 

The “Via Egnatia” was one of the longest stretches of road . It was heavily traveled at times, and Paul followed it from the port at Neapolis (Kavala) to the Roman colony of Philippi, just about 10 miles away.

 

 

God had commissioned his people to “go and tell the world“. And there was none better than Paul! The Journey in Greece was just beginning for Paul, and what a journey it would be!