Lexical Summary Nea Polis: New City Original Word: Νέα Πόλις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Neapolis. From neos and polis; new town; Neapolis, a place in Macedonia -- Neapolis. see GREEK neos see GREEK polis NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee neos, and polis Definition Neapolis, a city of Macedonia NASB Translation Neapolis (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3496: ΝεάπολιςΝεάπολις, Νεαπολισεως, ἡ, Neapoils,. a maritime city of Macedonia, on the gulf of Strymon, having a port (cf. Lewin, St. Paul, 1:203 n.) and colonized by Chalcidians (see B. D., under the word Topical Lexicon Historical Background and Location Neapolis, “New City,” lay on the Aegean coastline of ancient Macedonia, opposite the island of Thasos and at the eastern end of the Via Egnatia. In Roman times it served as the principal harbor for Philippi, only some sixteen kilometers inland. The modern city of Kavála in Greece occupies its site, preserving traces of the ancient harbor works, city walls, and the extension of the celebrated Roman road that linked the Adriatic to the Bosporus. Role in the Expansion of the Gospel Although the noun itself is not preserved as a lexical entry within the Greek New Testament text, the port is inseparable from the first recorded entrance of the gospel into continental Europe. When Paul and his companions—Silas, Timothy, and Luke—answered the Macedonian call, they set foot on European soil at Neapolis before proceeding to Philippi (Acts 16:11-12). That brief mention marks a watershed moment: the Good News crossed from Asia into Europe, fulfilling the mandate that the message travel “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Strategic Importance for Pauline Ministry 1. Gateway to Macedonia: Neapolis offered immediate access to the inland colonies of Philippi and Thessalonica via the Via Egnatia, facilitating rapid movement and letter-carrying across Macedonia and into Illyricum (Romans 15:19). Theological and Typological Reflections The name “New City” invites meditation on the consummate “new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:2). Just as Neapolis functioned as the threshold through which the apostolic band introduced the message of new life to a continent, so the ultimate New City will be the eternal dwelling of redeemed humanity. The port’s transitional character—linking sea and land, Asia and Europe—mirrors the church’s calling to bridge earthly realms with the heavenly kingdom. Archaeological and Historical Witness Excavations reveal a fortified acropolis, early Christian basilicas, and milestones of the Via Egnatia bearing imperial inscriptions. These finds corroborate Luke’s reliability and underscore the providential alignment of Roman infrastructure with missionary advance; paved roads and protected harbors became conduits for the gospel. Lessons for Contemporary Discipleship • Readiness to respond to divine direction: Paul’s swift obedience to the Macedonian vision reminds believers that strategic locations—ports, universities, digital platforms—can become modern Neapolises for gospel entry. Summary Neapolis stands as more than a geographic footnote; it is a tangible marker of God’s unfolding plan to carry the message of Jesus Christ across cultural and continental boundaries, foreshadowing the day when all nations will assemble in the true and everlasting New City prepared by God. Forms and Transliterations νέβελ νεβροί νεβρώ νεελάσσαLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance ναῦν — 1 Occ.ναῦται — 2 Occ. ναυτῶν — 1 Occ. Ναχώρ — 1 Occ. νεανίαν — 1 Occ. νεανίας — 1 Occ. νεανίου — 1 Occ. Νεανίσκε — 1 Occ. νεανίσκοι — 4 Occ. νεανίσκον — 3 Occ. Ναιμὰν — 1 Occ. νεκρά — 3 Occ. νεκράν — 1 Occ. νεκρῶν — 78 Occ. νεκροὶ — 14 Occ. νεκροῖς — 2 Occ. νεκρόν — 3 Occ. νεκρὸς — 9 Occ. νεκροῦ — 1 Occ. νεκροὺς — 19 Occ. |
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