Category Archives: New Testament

Did Paul visit Samos?

Posted on June 30, 2009 | 1 comment

Samos is a mountainous island in the SE part of the Aegean Sea off the coast of Asia Minor. It is 27 miles long (E-W) and about 14 miles wide. The island is separated from the mainland by a strait of one mile.

The port of Samos on the island of Samos. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
The port of Samos on the island of Samos. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Paul and his companions stopped at, or passed near, Samos on the return from his third journey.

Sailing from there [Mitylene], we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos; and the day following we came to Miletus. (Act 20:15 NAU)

English versions do not make it clear whether Paul stopped at Samos or came within sight of the island. These comments by Floyd Filson might be helpful.

Paul’s ship…either ‘touched at’ and anchored overnight at Samos (so RSV, though this is an unusual meaning for parebalomen) or ‘came near’ to Samos and passed by it on the E or the W to anchor for the night at Trogyllium. (Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. IV:197)

Here is a view of the eastern end of Samos as a ship passes through the most narrow part of the strait between the island and the Turkish mainland.

View of Samos from a ship in the strait between island and mainland. Photo by F. Jenkins.
Samos from a ship in the strait between island & mainland. Photo: F. Jenkins.

Paul may not have visited Samos, but it is clear that he came very close.

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Posted in Bible Study, Greece, New Testament, Travel, Turkey

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Sunset on the Aegean

Posted on June 29, 2009 | Leave a comment

This photo was made from one of the resort hotels overlooking the Aegean Sea at Kusadasi, Turkey, near the ancient city of Ephesus.

Sunset on the Aegean near Ephesus. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Sunset on the Aegean near Ephesus. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The Aegean is not mentioned by name in the New Testament, but it plays a prominent role in the journeys of the Apostle Paul. Perhaps in a few days I will pull together some of this information and share it with you.

Apollos, the eloquent man of Alexandria, learned the way of the way of God more accurately at Ephesus. When he heard of the work in Achaia (Corinth) he wanted to go there. He likely sailed west from Ephesus to Cenchrea, a port of Corinth.

But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. (Act 18:26-28 NAU)

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Posted in Bible Places, Bible Study, Greece, New Testament, Travel, Turkey

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Herod built a hippodrome at Caesarea Maritima

Posted on June 25, 2009 | 1 comment

Herod the Great built a hippodrome along the coast at Caesarea Maritima in 10 B.C. to celebrate the opening of the city. In the second century A.D. the south side of the hippodrome was reconstructed as an amphitheater to be used for gladiatorial contests. New sections with beautiful frescoes have been uncovered.

This metal sculpture has been erected on the north end of the hippodrome along the beautiful Mediterranean.

View in the hippodrome at Caesarea Maritima. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

View from the hippodrome at Caesarea Maritima. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The theater we showed in the previous post is on the south end of the hippodrome. The harbor built by Herod the Great is a little to the north of the hippodrome. The apostle Paul was in prison at Caesarea for two years between A.D. 58 and 60 (Acts 23:23 – 26:32).

We discussed Paul’s possible use of the charioteer in Philippians 3:12-14 here.

New paintings of the hippodrome mosaics. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

New paintings of the hippodrome frescoes. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Study, Culture, Israel, New Testament

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Caesarea Maritima

Posted on June 23, 2009 | 1 comment

Caesarea Maritima was a first century Roman capital and seaport. The gospel was first preached to the Gentiles here when Peter came from Joppa to Caesarea to tell Cornelius words by which he could be saved (Acts 10, 11).

Herod the Great built a city on the site of Strato’s Tower and named it Caesarea in honor of Caesar Augustus. It became a center of Roman provincial government in Judea. The city had a harbor and was located on the main caravan route between Tyre and Egypt. This city is called Caesarea Maritima (on the sea) to distinguish it from Caesarea Philippi.

The theater, now restored, was built originally by Herod the Great. Others added to and modified the theater in later centuries. The seating capacity is about 4000. Between the theater and the Mediterranean Sea is an open area in which numerous building fragments are displayed in a park-like environment. In the foreground we see the base of a column.

The restored theater at Caesarea Maritima. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The restored theater at Caesarea Maritima. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

An inscription with the name of Pontius Pilate, the Roman procurator, was found during the reconstruction of the theater June 15, 1961.

The Apostle Paul used the harbor at Caesarea several times. He was imprisoned here for two years before departing for Rome (Acts 24:27; 27:1).

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Study, Israel, New Testament

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Paul, Silas, and Timothy pass through Amphipolis

Posted on June 21, 2009 | Leave a comment

Amphipolis was situated about 30 miles west of Philippi on the Via Egnatia. Luke remained at Philippi while Paul, Silas and Timothy continued to Thessalonica. There is no indication of any preaching done in Amphipolis and Appollonia. In fact, the reference to the city barely attracts notice.

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. (Act 17:1 ESV)

The River Strymon runs past Amphipolis and continues for about 3 1/2 miles south where it flows into the Aegean Sea. The photo of the River Strymon below was made in the late afternoon against the sun, but I like the effect.

The River Strymon at Amphipolis. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The River Strymon at Amphipolis. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

K. L. McKay, in an article in The New Bible Dictionary, describes the city briefly:

Prized by the Athenians and Macedonians as the key both to the gold, silver and timber of Mt Pangaeus and also to the control of the Dardanelles, it became under the Romans a free town and the capital of the first district of Macedonia. Amphipolis is about 50 km WSW of Philippi on the Via Egnatia, a great Roman highway, and Paul passed through it on his way to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1).

The city is somewhat difficult to reach and there is little is to be seen.

Amphipolis Archaeological Site. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Amphipolis Archaeological Site. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Places, Bible Study, Greece, New Testament, Travel

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Neapolis was the port of Philippi

Posted on June 19, 2009 | Leave a comment

During his second journey, while at Troas, Paul saw a vision of a man of Macedonia. Luke gives the following record of the vision and of the subsequent action of the apostle.

A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:9-10)

Paul and his companions, including Luke, landed at Neapolis (modern Kavalla). The text indicates that the real goal of their mission was to reach the Roman colony of Philippi. Philippi was about 10 miles away, and could be reached by traveling the famous Via Egnatia across Mount Symbolum. Neapolis had been founded in the 7th century B.C. and served as the port of Philippi. Here is a photo of the modern port at Kavalla in northern Greece.

The harbor of Kavalla, Greece, known as Neapolis at the time of Paul. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The harbor of Kavalla (biblical Neapolis), Greece. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Luke uses his words sparingly.

So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis. (Act 16:11)

Paul and his companions sailed from Philippi (the port of Neapolis) to Troas on the return from the third journey (Acts 20:3-6.

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Posted in Bible Study, Greece, New Testament, Travel

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Cappadocia was home to early Christians

Posted on June 18, 2009 | 4 comments

John Freely describes Cappadocia in these words:

“Most of this part of Cappadocia is covered with a deep layer of tufa, a soft stone of solidified mud, ash and lava which once poured down from the now extinct volcanoes on Hasan Dagi and Ericiyes Dagi, the two great mountain peaks of Cappadocia. In the eons since then the rivers of the region have scoured canyons, gorges, valleys and gulleys through the soft and porous stone, and the elements have eroded it into fantastic crags, folds, turrets, pyramids, spires, needles, stalagmites, and cones, creating a vast outdoor display of stone sculptures in an incredible variety of shapes and colours” (The Companion Guide to Turkey, 238).

Devout Jews from Cappadocia were present in Jerusalem on Pentecost (Acts 2:9). Peter=s letters were addressed to Christians living in Cappadocia (1 Pet. 1:1). In the centuries after New Testament times many Christians settled in this volcanic region of perhaps 50,000 cones.

Gliding gently over Cappadocia. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Gliding gently over Cappadocia. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The best way to enjoy the Cappadocian landscape is by taking a hot air balloon early in the morning. Drifting gently over the landscape is a unique experience.

Todd Bolen calls attention to a nice photo gallery of Cappadocia in the Los Angeles Times here.

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Posted in Bible Places, Bible Study, Church History, New Testament, Travel, Turkey

The Apostle Paul came to Philippi

Posted on June 17, 2009 | Leave a comment

The Apostle Paul came to Philippi on his second preaching journey. Luke accurately describes the city with these words:

So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis; and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. (Act 16:11-12 NAU)

The photo below shows ruins of the theater which was cut into the mountain side. It was built in the days of Philip II in the 4th century B.C. During renovations in the second and third century A.D. arrangements were made for gladiatorial contests.

The theater at Philippi. Built in 4th century B.C. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The theater at Philippi. Built in 4th century B.C. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

According to Fant and Reddish,

the theater was modified for gladiatorial contests. The first three or four rows of seats were removed, protective walls were added to keep the animals from the audience, new rows of seats were added on the upper part of the theater, and, in the 3rd century, an underground tunnel was constructed underneath the orchestra for the purpose of bringing in the wild animals. (A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey, 109-110)

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Posted in Bible Places, Bible Study, Greece, New Testament, Travel

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Virtual Qumran Reconstruction

Posted on June 15, 2009 | 2 comments

Dr. Robert R. Cargill announced here that images and a movie of Virtual Qumran are available for free download. To view the images go directly to www.VirtualQumran.com. These images will be helpful in any teaching about Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Cargill is Chief Architect and Designer of the Qumran Visualization Project.

Virtual Qumran. North East View. UCLA Qumran Visualization Project.

Virtual Qumran. North East View. UCLA Qumran Visualization Project.

Here is a photo I made at the reconstructed ruins of Qumran.

View of proposed study room at Qumran. View NE. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

View of proposed study room at Qumran. View NE. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The sign in the room reads,

The members of the Qumran Sect occupied themselves with studying the books of the Bible. Hundreds of pottery lamps were discovered in this room, validating the supposition that it was used for study during the night.

I am not sure this is a valid conclusion.

Qumran Potters Quarter. UCLA Qumran Visualization Project.

Qumran Potters Quarter. UCLA Qumran Visualization Project.

Check our earlier discussion of the Dead Sea Sect here.

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Posted in Archaeology, Israel, Jordan, New Testament

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Almond staff in the ark of the covenant

Posted on June 12, 2009 | 5 comments

Three items from the period of the wilderness (desert) wandering of the children of Israel were considered significant enough to be included in the ark of the covenant.

Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. (Hebrews 9:3-5 ESV)

The picture below, made at the model of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, shows a replica of the Ark of the Covenant with the contents mentioned by the writer of Hebrews. For more information about the model read here.

Replica of Ark of Covenant showing contents. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Replica of the Ark of the Covenant showing contents. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

At Jerash in Jordan, young boys were selling small bags of green almonds. Not my preference, but apparently there is a market for them. “Jordan almonds” are famous for use at weddings. The fresh almond is bittersweet in taste, but the sugar coating adds sweetness. The “Jordan almonds” are still “Jordan almonds” even when they come from California!

Green almonds at Jerash, Jordan. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Green almonds at Jerash, Jordan. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Jerash is thought to be the site of Gerasa, one of the cities of the Decapolis (Matthew 4:25). Perhaps it is the city belonging to the country of the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26,37).

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Posted in Bible Places, Culture, Jordan, New Testament, Old Testament

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