Note 6 at Ac 16:12: Philippi was a city of Macedonia (see note 1 at Ac 16:9) that originally was a part of Thrace but was conquered in 356 B.C. by Philip II and annexed to Macedonia. Philip named the city after himself.

This is the first city in Europe that Paul is recorded as ministering in. It was not the capital of Macedonia, but it was the first city of importance. It was located about ten miles inland from Neapolis (see note 5 at Ac 16:11), which served as its seaport. The two cities were separated by a mountain range, with a pass between them 1,600 feet above sea level.

Paul made a number of converts in Philippi. Special mention is made of a merchant woman named Lydia (see note 1 at Ac 16:14) and the Philippian jailer (Ac 16:23-34), who both became believers. Because Paul cast a spirit of divination out of a girl (Ac 16:16-18), a riot ensued, and Paul and Silas were cast into prison where they encountered this jailer.