Day 11 - Corinth + Giannikos Winery

The Final Day

We had the pleasure of staying last night at the glorious Titania Hotel in Athens. The dining room provides a spectacular view of the city and the Acropolis. This morning after breakfast we were all tested (via nasal swab) for Covid-19. THANKFULLY we were all negative, which means we’ll all be traveling home tomorrow. Like many places, Greece currently requires a negative Covid-19 test in order to travel out of the country. So, with the Covid test behind us, we set out for our last full day together. Our destination was Corinth, the setting for Acts 18:1-17 and the destination of the letters of 1st and 2nd Corinthians. The trip from Athens to Corinth is 60 miles. And our first stop was the Corinth Canal.

This three-mile-long shipping canal across the isthmus of Corinth connects the Adriatic Sea on the west to the Aegean Sea on the east. Prior to its construction in the 19th century, ships would have to travel around the isthmus – at considerable risk and time. The canal is an engineering masterpiece and a huge shortcut for shipping.

During the 1st century, the proximity of Corinth to both the Adriatic and Aegean made it a home for powerful merchants who served the commercial traffic and sailors that passed through the area. Corinth was also home to Jewish synagogues and plenty of pagan worship - some of which featured temple prostitutes.

Corinth was not a small town. Approximately 300,000 people lived in this Roman colony. And slaves and prisoners of war could come here to be set free and become Roman citizens. This meant the possibility of upward social mobility not available elsewhere in the Roman empire. As Dr. Hill explained, the merchant class was the power center in the city of Corinth when the Apostle Paul traveled there on his 2nd and 3rdmissionary journeys. Nowadays we might say, Corinth was a place where “money talks.”

It was into this setting that Paul arrives after a two-day hike from Athens in Acts 18. It was here that he stayed 18 months. It was here that he worked in the marketplace as a craftsman or leather worker. (Was it rich Corinthian leather?) It was here that he taught in the synagogues until they wouldn’t let him anymore. It was here that he made converts and gathered a group in a house next to the synagogue. It was here that many believed and were baptized. And it was here that Paul received a vision from the Lord, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you…” (Acts 18:9b-10a). Dr. Hill reminded us that when God gives you a vision and promises to be with you, you should take Him at His word and obey.

For Paul, this meant a new local church being planted. But it also meant that Paul would be dragged off and brought before the local authority for his radical teaching about Jesus Christ. But God knew what would happen. The authority dismissed Paul’s case and sent Paul on his way. This was an unlikely outcome in the rest of the Roman empire but not here in Corinth, where a religious dispute was fine - as long as it didn’t affect the merchant business.

We finished our trip to Corinth with a trip up a steep hill to Acrocorinth or “upper Corinth”. The views from on top of the hill were breathtaking! Corinth was our last official Biblical site visit on this trip, and it certainly filled our hearts with inspiration and boldness to follow Christ and obey His commandments, just as Paul followed and obeyed.

After Corinth we had lunch and visited a small winery before heading back to Athens for our final night of the trip.

We are all very thankful for the opportunity to see all that we have seen, to travel where we’ve traveled, to make new friendships, and to grow deeper in our journey with Jesus. We’re also very thankful to Rich Ferreira and the whole team at GTI, our trip leader Dr. Craig Hill, our tour guides and drivers, and all our loved ones at home who have supported us. It’s been the experience of a lifetime. Thank you!

Troy