Friday, June 13 – Pilgrimage Story 7

In the city of Berea, a ministry memorial for the Apostle Paul has been built atop the Bema. The statue of Paul on the right is said to have been a gift from the Russian Orthodox Church.

"Now the Jews in Berea were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. As a result, many of them believed, including not a few prominent Greek women and men."

Pilgrimage Story 7 – Friday, June 13

Our seventh day of pilgrimage began early in the morning as we left Meteora and journeyed toward Berea. The first sacred site we visited was the Bema of Berea, a platform traditionally believed to be where Paul once preached. Today, a statue of the Apostle Paul stands there—a gift from the Russian Orthodox Church.

According to the Book of Acts, when Paul was ministering in Thessalonica, the Jews there stirred up a riot, even storming the house of Jason, where Paul and Silas were staying. That very night, Paul fled to Berea for safety.

Unlike in Thessalonica, the Jews and Gentiles in Berea welcomed the gospel with an open heart. Scripture tells us they “examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true.” In the Korean Revised Version, the Berean believers are even described as "noble-minded people"—a reflection of their sincerity, discernment, and deep respect for the Word.

The Bereans not only received Paul's message seriously but continued to support him faithfully throughout his mission. Many came to faith, including a number of prominent Greek women and men. The legacy of their spiritual curiosity and integrity still inspires us today.

The statue of Paul seems to portray well that he was not known for having an impressive appearance.

The site of the synagogue in Berea

This is the Jewish synagogue where Paul preached the gospel. It is rare to find a synagogue that Paul actually visited in person. Next to the synagogue, a stream flows—before a synagogue could be built, at least ten Jewish men were required. Until that number was reached, they would have likely gathered here by the water for purification rituals. Once ten or more gathered, they would have constructed the synagogue and begun meeting there. The current structure has been expanded, but the underground

The entrance to the village leading to the synagogue

level and foundation stones are said to be from the original synagogue that Paul visited.

It is said that a significant Jewish population once lived in Berea.During World War II, under Hitler's orders, they were forcibly relocated to Germany, where they were tragically killed in gas chambers.

Before leaving their town, the Jewish residents asked their neighbors to preserve the community in their absence. In response, many locals made great efforts to honor that request, and thanks to their dedication, parts of the old Jewish quarter have been preserved to this day.

It is also told that a few German soldiers deceived the Jewish people—telling them they were being led to a new land, prepared like the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey, just as in the story of the Exodus. Trusting that hope, countless Jews followed—only to face unimaginable horror.

The stream behind the synagogue — it is said that Jewish people would often gather by the water for purification rituals.

A photo taken at the hotel in Kavala (Neapolis) after completing the pilgrimage.

After finishing our pilgrimage in Berea, we traveled to Kavala for an overnight stay.Kavala is the modern name for ancient Neapolis, the port where Paul first arrived in Europe after sailing from Troas. While it must have been a small town in Paul’s time, it has now grown into a much larger city.

At our hotel, we happened to meet a group of fellow pilgrims from Korea. They were pastors from the Icheon-Nam District of the Korean Methodist Church.To our surprise, one of them turned out to be the older sister of the owner of “Gohyang Soon Tofu,” a Korean restaurant near San Francisco Airport. We took a photo together as a memory—I plan to show it to them if I ever visit again.Once again, it reminded me: what a small world it truly is.

As we traced Paul’s journey—leaving behind the churches he had planted in Asia Minor (modern-day Türkiye) and coming in reverse to establish the first churches in Europe—I was struck by the sheer scale and determination of his mission.To think that Paul crossed such vast distances by boat and on foot, simply to preach the gospel, reminded me anew of his burning passion as an evangelist.

I realized once more that much of today’s church—perhaps even more than 70%—can trace its roots to Paul’s unwavering commitment.And it made me reflect: how powerfully the dedication of just one person can shape the world.It wasn’t the size of the crowd that mattered—it was the depth of one person’s devotion, and the faithful companions who supported and remembered that devotion.We are living today in the fruit of that sacrifice and legacy.

Prayer

Lord God,Today we stand on sacred ground—Berea and Philippi—where the gospel first took root in Europe.Give us the sincere faith of the Bereans, who examined the Scriptures daily.Grant us the open heart and immediate response of Lydia, who welcomed the gospel with boldness.Help us not only to hear Your Word but to live it out—that we may be people of faith who bring life to our families, our communities, and the church.In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Intercessory Prayer

1. Please pray for the final preparations for our upcoming youth retreat. May it be filled with grace and strength for all involved.

2. As we enter mid-June and prepare to take a short rest in July, we’re also planning special one-on-one gatherings between pastors and congregants.Rather than calling them “visits” or “check-ins,” I hope you’ll see these as sacred times set apart to dream about the future of our church together.Whether I visit you or you come to meet with me, my goal is to connect with every single one of you. Please keep this in your prayers.