Paul's Prison Epistles: Paul And The PhilippiansSample

Philippi: Acts 16:12-40

Philippi was an important city in the Roman province of Macedonia, an area that now lies in modern Greece. It lay along the Via Egnatia, the main road connecting the city of Rome to the eastern provinces of its empire. And it possessed a special status with Rome so that it had the same rights as a Roman colony in Italy, and even provided its citizens with Roman citizenship.

Paul had planted the church in Philippi during his second missionary journey somewhere the year A.D. 49 or 50. Before he reached Philippi, he had been ministering in Asia. But then he received a vision of a man begging him to bring the gospel to Macedonia. In response to this vision, Paul sailed for Macedonia, landing in Neapolis, but moving quickly inland to the city of Philippi about 10 miles northwest of Neapolis.

Many of Paul’s activities in Philippi are recorded in Acts 16:12-40. For example, it was in Philippi that Paul gained his first convert in Europe, the merchant woman Lydia. And it was in Philippi that he was jailed for an exorcism he performed on a slave girl. This was also where the well-known Philippian jailor professed faith in Christ, because he was so moved by Paul’s compassion for him.

Paul’s ministry in Philippi was so successful that even when he left the city, the Philippian Christians supported Paul sending him monetary gifts at various times when he was in financial need. Consider Philippians 4:15-16, where Paul wrote about their generosity:

When I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need (Philippians 4:15-16).

The church in Philippi loved Paul, and they regularly helped him with financial gifts. According to Philippians 4:10, 18, the Philippians also sent Paul a gift close to the time that he wrote his letter to them. Consider Paul’s words there:

At last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it… I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent (Philippians 4:10, 18).

Although there were some Philippian believers who appear to have been financially secure, the church as a whole was exceptionally poor, so they were not always able to help Paul financially. But when they had the opportunity, they gave to him generously.

And just as the Philippians loved Paul, he felt strong affection for them as well. He loved them for their commitment to the Lord, and for the way they had been his partners in gospel ministry. They were his close friends, people whose fellowship he enjoyed and whose presence he missed. 

Click here to  watch Paul's Prison Epistles: Paul and the Philippians , lesson five in the series Paul's Prison Epistles. thirdmill.org