Corinth – Hannah Goda
On the fifth day of our trip across Europe, we had the opportunity to stand exactly where Paul the apostle was tried by the Roman rulers in Corinth. James, our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable about all things biblical and historical in the area, and he briefed us on the history of the town before delving into the story of Paul. The city of Corinth was founded by the Greeks, then leveled by the Romans, and everything was destroyed except for the Temple to Apollo. Then the Romans rebuilt the city, making it massive in both area and wealth. The city became bigger than Athens, with extensive trade due to the two trading ports in connection to the city. With the vastness of riches and large amounts of people coming in and out every day, the city also became filthy and immoral. The center of the town where all the trade occurred went from being called the Greek word, Agora, to the Roman word, Forum. During his trip there, Paul worked as a tentmaker during the athletic games, and we saw the arch above where he was rumored to sell his goods. In addition, we stood where Paul was tried by the Roman rulers. The Bema was the area where the rulers sat to pass judgment on the criminals brought before them. Paul wasn’t given a fair trial, and was beaten while tied to a pole usually used for animal sacrifice to the people’s gods. The area was fairly even and flat, and was it was easy to visualize the bustling center of the Forum, full of trade and sailors and gods of all sorts. The area where the rulers sat was raised above the rest by a good two meters, giving the illusion of ultimate power. They could look down upon the wrongdoers and decide their punishment. A lot of the time, public whipping was the punishment, and there was a column remaining, with the head of a bull etched in to the sides, signifying animal sacrifices, where the criminals would be tied to while being beaten. Picturing Paul bound to the pole, with lashes and lashes coming down unfairly on his back was moving to us all. The pole was in the center of the Forum too, offering the best view to all who passed through. It was such a blessing to be where Paul was, to visualize and understand just barely the awfulness of the city and his punishment within it, and the power that God had to sustain him through it.
On the fifth day of our trip across Europe, we had the opportunity to stand exactly where Paul the apostle was tried by the Roman rulers in Corinth. James, our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable about all things biblical and historical in the area, and he briefed us on the history of the town before delving into the story of Paul. The city of Corinth was founded by the Greeks, then leveled by the Romans, and everything was destroyed except for the Temple to Apollo. Then the Romans rebuilt the city, making it massive in both area and wealth. The city became bigger than Athens, with extensive trade due to the two trading ports in connection to the city. With the vastness of riches and large amounts of people coming in and out every day, the city also became filthy and immoral. The center of the town where all the trade occurred went from being called the Greek word, Agora, to the Roman word, Forum. During his trip there, Paul worked as a tentmaker during the athletic games, and we saw the arch above where he was rumored to sell his goods. In addition, we stood where Paul was tried by the Roman rulers. The Bema was the area where the rulers sat to pass judgment on the criminals brought before them. Paul wasn’t given a fair trial, and was beaten while tied to a pole usually used for animal sacrifice to the people’s gods. The area was fairly even and flat, and was it was easy to visualize the bustling center of the Forum, full of trade and sailors and gods of all sorts. The area where the rulers sat was raised above the rest by a good two meters, giving the illusion of ultimate power. They could look down upon the wrongdoers and decide their punishment. A lot of the time, public whipping was the punishment, and there was a column remaining, with the head of a bull etched in to the sides, signifying animal sacrifices, where the criminals would be tied to while being beaten. Picturing Paul bound to the pole, with lashes and lashes coming down unfairly on his back was moving to us all. The pole was in the center of the Forum too, offering the best view to all who passed through. It was such a blessing to be where Paul was, to visualize and understand just barely the awfulness of the city and his punishment within it, and the power that God had to sustain him through it.