June 13, 2005
06/13 Greece Day Three - Thessalonica
Please read Acts 16:11-17:9
After a long trip to the northeastern part of the country yesterday, we spent all day in Thessalonica, Philippi and Neapolis (Kavla today).
We visited the location of the House of Jason (Acts 17:5-9), the river in which Lydia was baptized (Acts 16:13-15), Paul and Silas' bema seat where they were judged, condemned and beaten (Acts 16:19-22), and the jail where they stayed overnight (Acts 16:23-34).
The most moving part was the devotional time at the sight of Lydia's baptism - a small river running through the heart of ancient Philippi. After brief devotions, two young 13-year-old girls on the tour with us asked if they could be rebaptized at the shrine of Lydia's conversion and baptism. It made the story of Paul's ministry in Acts 16 so real for me. Many people on the tour renewed their baptism vows as I read Romans 6:3-4.
This was the place from which the Christian faith was launched in the western world ... at small river with a young woman and two people with great faith.
Posted by roger at June 13, 2005 02:28 PM