1
The Church at Philippi
History
The apostle Paul established the first European church, Philippi, around 50 or 51 AD.
Philippi was located on the eastern border of the Roman empire of Macedonia, just ten miles
northwest of the port city of Neapolis, founded by immigrants from Thrace and known for
abundant gold mines and plenteous springs. Set on a fertile plain that was the trade highway
where many passed through on their way to Rome, which linked the Aegean and Adriatic Seas.
Leadership/Key Individuals
Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke, the apostles, traveled to Philippi to establish a church.
Lidya, a female merchant, a demon-possessed slave girl, and the Philippian jailor and his family.
Key Teachings/Critical Events
God gave Paul a vision in which a Macedonian man pleaded, “Come over to Macedonia
and help us” (Acts 16:9). The vision started Paul and his crew's trek to establish the Church in
Philippi. When they arrived in Philippi, they went down to the river, where a group of women
was, and began sharing the Gospel. Lydia, a prominent merchant, and her family were the first
conversions in Philippi. After many days of being followed and heckled by a slave girl
possessed with a divination spirit who made money for her master by fortune-telling, Paul
Commanded the demonic spirit out of her. Unpleased, her master had them arrested. In prison,
Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns, which led to an earthquake that opened the cell and
unfastened their chains. The Jailer, in great fear, was ready to kill himself because he thought the
prisoners had escaped. Paul yelled to the Jailer to let him know they were still there. This moved
the Jailer and asked Paul how to be saved. The Jailer and his family became believers and were
baptized.
2
The Church at Thessalonica
History
Thessalonica was a prominent city in Macedonia due to its seaport location, which made
it a principal stop on the Egnatian Way, a major Roman road. This is the first city where Paul’s
teaching drew a large group of socially influential citizens. Due to the church's location, it was
poised to be unable to share the gospel with the entire region, which they did with great joy, “the
Lord’s message rang out from” the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 1:8).
Leadership/Key Individuals
Paul and Silas sharing the Gospel. Jason was the individual that let Paul and Silas stay in
his house. The mob of Jews that caused an uproar in the city.
Key Teachings/Critical Events
While Paul was sharing the Gospel over three Sabbath days about Jesus being the
Messiah, some of the Jews became jealous and formed a mob, creating a disturbance in the city.
This mob had decided to get rid of the missionaries. The mob could not locate Paul and Silas, so
they found and dragged Jason to the city official, accusing Jason of defying Ceaser's decrees.
Jason was ordered to pay a bond and then released. Some of the new Thessalonian believers hid
Paul, Silas, and company till dark. Due to the violent opposition of Paul and Silas sharing the
gospel, Paul, Silas, and company escaped to Berea.
3
The Church at Corinth
History
Corinth, the capital of the Roman province of Achaia, was important as a commercial and
military city due to its location. It was also a land bridge between the Aegean and Ionian Seas
with two harbors. Corinth had a large population of Gentiles and Jews. The first black-figured
vase painting technique was invented in Corinth, and the city is well-known all over the
Mediterranean for its Proto-Corinthian style of pottery.
Leadership/Key Individuals
The Apostle Paul led the way for the Church at Corinth. Tent makers Aquila and
Pricilla. Titus opened up his house for the ministry. Sosthenes the synagogue ruler.
Key Teachings/Critical Events
Paul stayed with Aquila and Pricila, he worked with them in tent making to fund his
ministry while in Corinth. Some of the Corinthians opposed and reviled Paul, he shook out his
garments and told those that opposed him and God that “Your blood be on your own hands! I am
innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6) He went to stay with Titus where he
received a vision from God telling him not to be afraid that God would protect him. (Acts18:9-
10) Paul was taken to a tribunal overseen by Gallio on alleged charges brought by the
unbelieving Jews stating that “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the
law” (Acts 18:13). Gallio refused to become involved in a dispute saying that he would not be
the judge of the Jewish laws and dismissed the allegations. The Jew did not like the verdict,
seized and beat Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue.
4
The Church at Ephesus
History
Ephesus was the capital of a Roman province in Asia, located near a harbor at the mouth
of the Cayster River in western Asia Minor. This region was a fertile valley with major roads
connecting the city to all other significant cities in the region. Ephesus was known at that time as
having the largest 50,000-seat amphitheater which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the
temple of Artemis.
Leadership/Key Individuals
The Apostle Paul, Tyrannus, owner of a school or lecture hall, Town Clerk, Demetrius, a
silversmith, The sons of Sceva
Key Teachings/Critical Events
Paul taught the disciples there the difference between their knowledge of John’s baptism
and being baptized in Jesus' name. Paul stopped teaching in the synagogue due to opposition and
slander. He moved to Tyrannus’ lecture hall and began teaching daily for two years. “God was
doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had
touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them, and the evil spirits
came out of them.” (Acts 19:11-12) Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were
invoking spirits in the name of the Lord Jesus until the evil spirits asked them who they were,
and the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them and mastered all of them, overpowered
them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. Demetrius, a silversmith, agitated
the other artisans against Paul, who started a riot, and people started yelling praises to Artemis.
The town clerk informed the citizens that Paul had the right legally to preach and teach the
gospel so they dispersed.
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