Our travels today took us to the ancient city of Corinth. Both Katakolon, where we were yesterday and Nafplion (the two port cities where the ship docked) are on what is known as the Peloponnesian peninsula of Greece.  On the eastern side is the Corinthian Canal, built between 1881 and 1893, cutting through from the Gulf of Corinth to the Aegean Sea. It is 4 miles long but only 70 feet wide. 

Our bus took us to the city of Ancient Corinth, in an area that is a mix of Greek and Roman cities dating back as far as the 6th century B.C.  With our guide providing narration, we walked through a small museum that houses excavations demonstrating that a Jewish synagogue, and both Christian and pagan worship would have all existed there at some point in time. There were statues of Emperors Julius Caesar, Nero, and the Augustas who would have lived during the birth of Jesus, dressed in robes depicting him as the high priest.

In prehistoric times Corinth was one of the richest cities in Greece. It was destroyed by a Roman general in 146 B.C. and was rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C.  it developed rapidly and by the time of the Apostle Paul’s 18 month stay in 50-51 A.D. had become the capital of its province.  

As we walked around the archeological site, we literally walked on streets that would have existed when the Apostle Paul was there and preached to the Corinthians. Silas and Timothy visited him in Corinth, and other Corinthians are mentioned by name in Scripture. I walked to the top of the remains of the Bema, the court where Paul would have spoken multiple times to the scholars and leaders and shared the gospel of Christ, as well as speaking in the synagogue. 

We walked past the remnants of Roman and Greek architecture of what would have been a modern city, complete with natural springs feeding public baths and bathrooms, shops, and dwellings. Corinth is where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla, the tent makers who Paul would have joined in their work – perhaps one of the shops is where they sold their wares!  It is also where it is believed that Paul wrote his letters to Timothy and the Thessalonians. 

Also in Corinth is the Temple of Apollo, built around 540 B.C.  Seven of its original 38 monolithic (made from a single stone) columns are still standing.  They are 24 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter. It is not hard to imagine Paul sharing the gospel outside of the temple, with Timothy and Silas working the edges of the crowd. :0)

Thanking God for the trip to Corinth – and the technology to share a bit of it with you. In Paul’s words, may you know Him.

By : ramblealong