Philippians
INTRODUCTION
PHILIPPIANS
WILLIAM L. LANE
The Roman colony of Philippi was evangelized on the second missionary journey in response to a divine vision calling Paul and his group into Macedonia (Acts 16:6-40). Vigorous public efforts to spread the gospel throughout the city, and specifically among citizens of the colony, provoked hostility. Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned (see 1 Thessalonians 2:2). Nevertheless, there was a positive response to the gospel by such resident foreigners as Lydia and her household and by enfranchised citizens like the local jailer. The work was sufficiently advanced to merit leaving Luke at Philippi to provide leadership for the new church when Paul left the city. Note that the first “we” section in Acts ends at 16:17 with Luke at Philippi; the next one is introduced at 20:5-6 where Paul has rejoined Luke at Philippi.
Paul revisited Philippi twice before his imprisonments in Jerusalem, Caesarea and Rome (Acts 20:1-6; 2 Corinthians 2:12f.; 7:5f.). It is probable that when he returned to Macedonia in the last years of his life (see Titus 3:12) he again made his way to Philippi, fulfilling his intention to visit the church once more (Philippians 1:26; 2:24). Between these two points may be located Paul’s letter to the Philippians.