This morning’s excursion, began with a drive through the city of Athens enroute to Corinth, stopping for a bathroom break near an excellent viewpoint for the Corinth Canal. The Corinth Canal is an artificial canal in Greece that connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. At the city of Corinth, we viewed Ancient Corinth, including the Market Place and Temples. We visited the site where the apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla and received a vision from the Lord saying, “I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.” As Paul spoke, Crispus (chief ruler of the synagogue) and many others believed and were baptized, establishing the church at Corinth to whom Paul later wrote his two epistles.

Click on each photo below to enlarge.

We took communion near the Bema where the apostle Paul stood before Gallio to face charges brought against him by the Jews, and then walked through the remainder of the ruins.

The tour stopped for lunch (macaroni and cheese as an appetizer, veal with potatoes and rice, salad, and a baklava) at a restaurant near the Aegean Sea where we enjoyed very brief internet access for the first time in four days.

After lunch, the day’s excursion included a drive through Athens and past the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and many other historical and national buildings. And then, we were taken to rather highlight of the day, the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens including the world-renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon and the Erectheum.

We stood on Mars Hill as did the apostle Paul when he proclaimed, “I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” After climbing a long steep grade, we strolled, in awe, through the Agora (ancient market place and center of Athenian public life), where the Apostle Paul preached “Jesus and the resurrection” to the skeptical Athenians.

Back at the ship, it was dinner, a couple of shows, and bed.