Thessaloniki Ferry Port

Monday morning started our first travel days in Greece. We went to the Promenade along the water. We were able to get a group picture in front of Mt. Olympus in the background. Thessaloniki is the second most populous city in Greece with 2 million residents. It has had several nicknames over the years, but the one that stuck out to me was “Mother of the Poor/ Desperate” because of the shelter the city has offered to refugees over the years.

After seeing the sights along the water, we made our way to the upper city (passing the white tower, which is over 500 years old). From the upper city, we wound around the Northern walls and fortifications which were built in the 4th or 5th century CE. Mr. Jim Dorn read the passage in Acts 17 about Paul’s friend Jason (appropriate because Jason’s house was near where we were standing at our vantage point over the city):

Acts 17: 1-15
After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, 3explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you." 4Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason's house. 6When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, "These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, 7and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus." 8The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, 9and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.
10That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so. 12Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing. 13But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds. 14Then the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind. 15Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him.Read more