Philippi as a Roman colony, and where Paul was held
Says Acts 16:12 names “the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia” (BSB), and there Paul and Silas declare that they are Roman citizens (16:37).
Strabo says the small settlement once called Crenides was enlarged after the defeat of Brutus and Cassius (Geogr. 7, frag. 41); his translator dates that defeat to 42 BC. Dio reports that after Actium, Octavian let Italians dispossessed for siding with Antony settle at Dyrrachium, Philippi and elsewhere (Dio 51.4.6). The jurists Celsus and Paulus, in the Digest, list Philippi among cities with the ius Italicum (Dig. 50.15.6; 50.15.8.8). Lightfoot names the colony “Colonia Augusta Julia Philippensis” and sees its Roman character in Acts 16, where magistrates styled praetors are attended by lictors (Philippians, pp. 50–51).
Says Paul writes that his chains for Christ are known “throughout the whole palace guard” (Phil 1:13, BSB) and sends greetings from “the household of Caesar” (4:22, BSB). Acts records custody at Caesarea (24:27) and Rome (28:16, 30).
Deissmann argues that “praetorium” and “Caesar’s household” are not necessarily distinctive of Rome and proposes at least Colossians, Philemon and Ephesians in an Ephesian imprisonment (Light from the Ancient East, pp. 229–230).
Uncertain The letter does not name the city of Paul’s custody; Rome, Ephesus and Caesarea are the main proposals. No lean is taken here.
This background does not decide what standing firm (4:1), agreement in the Lord (4:2) or heavenly citizenship (3:20) means.
Claims
- SaysActs 16:12 calls Philippi a Roman colony and the leading city of its district of Macedonia; at Philippi Paul and Silas declare that they are Roman citizens (Acts 16:37).
- SaysPaul says his chains for Christ are known throughout the palace guard (Phil 1:13) and sends greetings from Caesar’s household (Phil 4:22); Acts records his custody at Caesarea (24:27) and at Rome (28:16, 30).
- UncertainWhere Philippians was written (Rome, Ephesus or Caesarea); the letter does not name the city, and no lean is taken in this note.
Citations
- BSB public domain Acts 16:12, 37; 24:27; 28:16, 30; Phil 1:13; 3:20; 4:1–2, 22
- Strabo (Jones) CC BY-SA 3.0 Geogr. 7, frag. 41, with the translator’s note 2 (Jones, LCL vol. 3, 1924; Perseus 1999.01.0198, book 7, fragments, section 41); paraphrased
- Dio (Cary), vol. 6 public domain Dio 51.4.6, Cary, LCL vol. 6 (first printed 1917; IA diosromanhistory06cassuoft, 1955 reprint), Greek pp. 12, 14 (images n21, n23; section 6 marker on p. 12), English pp. 13, 15 (images n22, n24; margin B.C. 30); paraphrased
- Digesta (Mommsen) public domain Dig. 50.15.6 (Celsus), p. 856, right column (image n971); Dig. 50.15.8.8 (Paulus), p. 857, left column (image n972); Mommsen, Digesta, 6th stereotype ed. 1893 (IA corpusiuriscivil00krueuoft); Latin, paraphrased in English
- Lightfoot, Philippians public domain Introduction, “The Church of Philippi,” pp. 50–51 (images n71–n72), with p. 51 nn. 4–5; 1903 printing of the 4th ed. (IA epistlephilippia00lighuoft); short phrase quoted, the rest paraphrased
- Deissmann, LAE public domain 1910 Hodder and Stoughton edition (IA lightfromancie00deis), pp. 229–230 (images n338–n339), text and p. 229 n. 1, p. 230 nn. 2–3; short phrases quoted, the rest paraphrased
Quotations from Strabo (Jones) are used under CC BY-SA 3.0 · Credits
2026-11-09
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