Echoes of the Ancient New Testament Cities: Philippi

Matthew James Elliott

Happy New Year!

The days after Christmas are always a bit more low‑key, but they also carry a sense of quiet anticipation. This is a feeling that leaves all of us waiting for the unexpected. And yes, you probably knew I’d circle back to that theme at some point. I’m referring to my previous series on this blog, Unexpected Legacies. Only this time, it’s not about any particular person. It’s about an ancient New Testament city: Philippi. But that will come in a moment… or two…

As I write this, I’ve spent a great deal of time reflecting on the past year, and here in the final days of 2025, I find myself doing that again. Christmas has come and gone. The wrapping paper no longer hides the expectations the holiday brought. Everything that was kept secret from my family has now been revealed, and the house has settled into those still, quiet moments of joy as we await the new year. Well… other than the six‑week‑old puppy named Peppermint we surprised our kids with on Christmas morning, who is disrupting everything. Even then, the moments are still there.

These moments are natural, but the time off work has also given me space to think about what 2026 might hold. I’ve held on to moments like these before, and here we are again. By the time this post goes live, we’ll be in the new year, and doors may already be opening. The arrival of Paul and his companions in Philippi was one of those doors. It was a moment that opened the way for the message of the early church. The city wasn’t just another stop on Paul’s second missionary journey.

When a handful of everyday people stepped into unexpected roles, a seed was planted that would grow into one of the most joyful and generous churches in the New Testament. Archaeological excavations have revealed many of the mysteries behind this community. Philippi was a significant place in history. Acts 16:12 tells us that the city was a “Roman colony and the leading city of the district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.” 

This year, I had the privilege of reading and reviewing an advanced reader copy of a book by Jenifer Jennings called Leading Philippi that provided a lot of detail about this. Her portrayal of the early believers reminded me that new beginnings rarely start with a huge foundation. Rather, they begin with quiet obedience, open hearts, and the courage to say yes. That is what the city of Philippi began as: a small group of people trusting in the unexpected arrival of Paul and his companions, and it changed everything. 

The Bible Odyssey website provides some thought-provoking findings that state Philippi was proud of its Roman identity. Veterans retired there. Latin found a home in the civic and administrative life of the city. Loyalty to Caesar was the foundation of everything. It wasn’t the kind of place you’d expect a spiritual revolution to take root. But something changed when Paul, and others, arrived. There were no synagogues. Instead, they found a group of women praying by the river. (Acts 16:13). It was their yes that would open that door I mentioned earlier. 

AI Generation of Lydia

Many of us know the story of Lydia. She remains one of the most compelling figures in Philippian history. As a dealer in purple cloth, she was already a woman of influence and independence, but she was also a spiritual matriarch to the early believers. She wasn’t waiting for someone to bring her truth; she was already seeking God. Her story in Acts teaches us about wholehearted faith. The kind of faith that transforms hearts. When her household was baptized by Paul, her home became the first recorded gathering place for believers in Macedonia, as Acts 16 confirms.

The Philippian Jailer – Paul F.M. Zahl

While Lydia’s story is filled with confident obedience, another story in Acts 16 is anything but. It’s the story of a jailer whose introduction to the gospel came through a literal earthquake. One moment, he was simply doing his job; the next, he believed he had lost everything in the rubble. In that moment of fear, Paul, who had been arrested with Silas (someone from my Unexpected Legacy series), called out to him, assuring him that everyone was still there. And in the next breath, this man was on his way to becoming another influential leader in the Philippian church.

His story reminds us that new beginnings aren’t always gentle. Sometimes they come in the form of little puppies like the one currently running around our house. And sometimes life‑altering events open the most unexpected opportunities. What began with Lydia and the unnamed jailer grew into a church that became one of Paul’s most faithful supporters. In a letter he later wrote from prison in Rome, Paul calls them his partners in the gospel (Phil. 1:3-5 & 4:15–16; 2 Cor. 11:9).

Ruins of Philippi

Philippi was one of the most unlikely places for the early church to expand its mission. With Rome’s influence and the presence of various deities shaping the lives of those who lived there, it’s not surprising that things began the way they did, but it is also something unexpected. I believe that is a message worth remembering.  

What Philippi teaches us is that even the smallest yes can transform entire communities. As we enter the new year, perhaps the best thing I can leave you with is this: look for those open doors. Pay attention to what you find along the way, and ask yourself, Is this my new beginning? Who knows what could happen?

See you in the pages,

M.J.E.

PS (Up next month is Thessalonica, one of the two cities that Paul wrote to twice.)

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which gave him a unique perspective on people and Biblical History. Matthew holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, with a focus on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew is married and has three wonderful children who bring him immense joy and inspiration. One of his favorite things to do with them is to share stories they can someday learn from. When writing a story, he aspires to minister to others with love, equip them with encouragement, and use the gift God has given him as a writer to help readers experience God in a real and meaningful way.

Find Matthew on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, BookBub, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and even Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

~ Highlighted Release ~

My Newest Biblical Fiction Novel, The Hope of Inheritance, came out on Father's Day and has received a ChristLit Book Award for excellence in Christian Literature. Grab it via Amazon. If you enjoy it, please let me know by posting a review.

One Story Still Untold. Four Unlikely Authors.

Together, their Message will speak to Many.

The city of Rome was a vast and beautiful place-- on the surface. That is, until a great fire burned and destroyed most of it. Deep in a world hidden from those who would strike against them, four unlikely men work together to share a message of truth. This truth was spoken by those who were cut down because of the calling to go forth and preach. 

The message has always been clear: The hope of our inheritance is Christ living within each of us. In the echoes of persecution, sorrow, and even death, this message still reigns supreme, but will the people listen? Only time will tell, but before anything, these four men must come together and unite a church separated by fear and suffering.