This was the first city where Paul preached on his second journey (Acts 16: 11-40). Lydia, the first convert to Christ, originally came from Thyatira (where, later, there was a church - see Revelation 2:18-20. Paul’s and Silas’ imprisonment in Philippi are also referred to in 1 Thessalonians 2:2 and probably 2 Corinthians 11:25. Paul returned to Philippi (Acts 20:6) at the end of his journey before sailing to Troas (AD 51).

Paul wrote his “Letter to the Philippians” some years later and from prison (either in Ephesus or Rome). This letter has always been seen as the most personal and tender of all Paul’s letters, and there is no doubt that from the outset the Philippian church care deeply for Paul (see also 2 Corinthians 8: 1-5, 11:9). Paul revisited Philippi twice more - in 57 and 58 AD (see 2 Corinthians 7:6-16 and Acts (20:3-4).