Neapolis

Neapolis in the Bible

Neapolis is mentioned only once, in Acts 16:11. During Paul's second missionary journey, Paul saw a vision at Troas in which a man of Macedonia pleaded, "Come over into Macedonia, and help us" (Acts 16:9-10). The company then set sail from Troas, went by way of Samothrace, and arrived at Neapolis the next day, continuing from there to Philippi (Acts 16:11-12). Scripture records no events at Neapolis itself. The company stayed and preached at Philippi.

Background

The name Neapolis (Greek Νεάπολις) means "new city." Located some ten to fifteen kilometers from Philippi toward the coast, it is known to have served as Philippi's port. The Via Egnatia, the main east–west highway built by Rome, ran through the area, so travelers crossing by sea from Asia Minor could land at this harbor and proceed to Philippi and the Macedonian interior. The modern port city of Kavala in northern Greece is generally identified as the site of ancient Neapolis.

Significance in Scripture as a Whole

Neapolis marks the point at which Paul's mission crossed the sea from Asia Minor into Macedonia. Beginning at Acts 16:10, in the account of this journey, the narrative shifts from "they" to "we." For this reason the passage is frequently cited as the beginning of the so-called "we passages." Many hold that Paul also passed through this port on his later journeys to and from Macedonia (2 Corinthians 2:12-13; Acts 20:6), although the name Neapolis does not appear in those texts.

Interpretation and Issues

Neapolis is often described as "the place where Paul first set foot in Europe." The division between "Europe" and "Asia," however, is a modern geographical distinction; the text of Acts simply portrays the city as part of the journey across to Macedonia. Nor does the text record that Paul preached the gospel at Neapolis. The story of the first converts and the first church in Macedonia begins at Philippi with Lydia and the Philippian jailer. Some commentators compare this two-day voyage from Troas to Neapolis with the five-day voyage in the opposite direction in Acts 20:6 and draw conclusions about the wind conditions. This is an inference drawn from the text.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, Neapolis is mentioned chiefly in mission sermons on the "Macedonian call," as part of the route to Philippi. Pilgrimage itineraries in Greece also frequently present Kavala as Paul's landing place.