CHAPTER II.

_PAUL AND SILAS AT PHILIPPI._ A.D. 52.

THE wind blew fair, when the Apostle and his companions left Troas, and running before it in a straight course they reached, probably the same night[966], the island of Samothrace, and there came to anchor[967]. The next day, passing under the lee of the island of Thasos, they reached the Macedonian harbour of Neapolis, and thence passed inland a distance of about 10 miles to Philippi[968], the first[969] city which the traveller would reach in this part of Macedonia, and a Roman military colony[970] (Acts xvi. 12).

Here the Apostle and his companions stayed _some days_ (Acts xvi. 12). Being a military and not a mercantile city, the number of Jews here was small, and consequently there was no synagogue. There was, however, a Proseucha, _a House or Place of Prayer_, a slighter[971] and more temporary structure than the regular places of Jewish worship, outside the gate[972], on the banks of the Gaggitas, the fountains of which gave the ancient name to the city[973]. Those who met here for worship consisted chiefly of women (Acts xvi. 13), and amongst them was one, named Lydia, a proselytess[974] (Acts xvi. 14) of Thyatira[975] (Rev.