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Straight to the Cross


COLUMN: UP FOR THE TASK

Philippi, Gateway to Rome
by Paul Goddard

  Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your
  ears ...            --William Shakespeare

In 42 B.C., Mark Antony and Octavius set out for
Macedonia to punish the assassins of Julius
Caesar./1 West of Philippi, they met the armies of
Brutus and Cassius. Here, the Roman Republic would
became the Roman Empire./2

Taking a defensive position, Brutus and Cassius
occupied the high ground on the Via Egnatia./3 To
outflank this placement, Mark Antony ordered his
legions to attack by approaching through the
marshes south of the city.

Discovering this movement, Cassius ordered his men
into the wetlands to counter Mark Anthony's
offensive. In doing so, a gap developed between
his fortified outpost and the marshes. Seeing this
mistake, Mark Anthony ordered his troops to push
through the gap, thus dividing Cassius' army.
Thinking all was lost, Cassius committed suicide.

Meanwhile at the other end of the battlefield,
Brutus' soldiers charged forward without orders.
Consequently, their surprise assault routed
Octavius' men. Capturing three legions, their
spontaneous attack was a complete success. At the
days end, both sides celebrated victory and
mourned defeat. Fortunately for Octavius, the
premature looting of his abandoned encampment
allowed time for his army to reform./4 

Several days later, Brutus' army went on the
offensive again. This time they were repulsed by
the combined forces of Mark Anthony and Octavius.
Upon recognizing his defeat, Brutus followed the
example of Cassius, and took his life./5

When the fighting ceased, the remnants of his
conquered army were rounded up and drafted into
the victor's army. Those not suitable for military
service were discharged and allowed to return to
Rome. However, some chose to remain at Philippi
making it a Roman colony (Colonia Victrix
Philippensium). A decade later, it was enlarged
and became a retirement home for many Roman
military veterans.

Perhaps this is why the apostle Paul used military
terminology when he addressed the Philippians
(Philippians 2:25). Appian of Alexandria referred
to Philippi as "the gate of Europe to Asia," and a
century later Paul used this gate to enter Europe.

On his second evangelistic journey, he traveled
from Troas to Neapolis, and from Neapolis, he took
the Via Engatia to Philippi. While in Philippi, he
preached his first gospel sermon on European soil
(Acts 16:6-15). 

Eventually, Paul was not welcomed in Philippi.
Accused of being a Jew who was causing trouble,
Paul was beaten and thrown into prison (Acts
16:16-24)./6

While in stocks, Paul and his companion prayed and
sung songs of praise. About midnight, an
earthquake shook the city. The prison doors
opened, and the prisoners chains fell to the
ground. Fearing the prisoners had escaped, the
jailer contemplated suicide. Fortunately for him,
and unlike Cassius and Brutus before him, he did
not complete the task. Paul shouted "Don't harm
yourself! We are all here!" 

Later that night the jailer died, but it was not
with his sword. The sword that caused his death
was the sword of the Spirit. After hearing the
story of Jesus Christ, he was filled with joy and
responded by being united with Christ's death in
baptism (Acts 16:25-34; Romans 6:3-7).

The following morning the Roman authorities
learned that Paul was a Roman citizen, and they
realized that they had treated him unlawfully (1
Thessalonians 2:2). Alarmed at their mistake, they
asked him to leave the city. In victory, he did
so, but he left behind a church firmly planted in
the faith and love of Christ (Acts 16:35-40; Acts
16:13-15).

Christian, where are you traveling? What will you
leave behind when your trip is completed? Will it
be regret, or will it be joy? Christian, are you
up for the task?

   Take the name of Jesus with you,
   Child of sorrow and of woe;
   It will joy and comfort give you,
   Take it then wherever you go."
                      --Lydia Baxter
_______

1/ Gaius Octavius (later known as the Emperor
Octavius Caesar Augustus) was the adopted grand-
nephew of Julius Caesar. On March 15, 44 B.C.,
Julius Caesar was assassinated by the Roman
Senate.

2/ Over 200,000 men participated in the battle of
Philippi. The armies of Mark Antony and Octavius
were known as the Triumvirs, and the armies of
Cassius and Brutus were known as the Liberators.
After defeating the conspirators at Philippi,
Octavius Caesar Augustus would turn on his friend
Mark Antony and become the first Emperor of Rome
(Luke 2:1).

3/ The Via Egnatia was a Roman highway that
connected Thessalonica on the west (Acts 17:1),
and Neapolis on the east (Acts 16:11-12).

4/ After the first battle of Philippi, the Roman
battle cry became, "Complete the battle once
begun!".

5/ Primary sources for this battle can be found in
the writings of Appian, Caesar Augustus, Dio
Cassius, Plutarch, Suetonius, and Velleius
Paterculus.

6/ The previous year, Emperor Claudius expelled
the Jews from Rome. In Philippi, Paul was arrested
for healing a slave girl who had a spirit of
divination. The pagans believed in a mythical
snake which was associated with the Oracle of
Delphi and the Greek god Apollo. This "python
spirit", allowed those processed to predict the
future. To what extent this "python spirit"
actually allowed this girl to prophesy is unknown.

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