Ἀπολλωνία (Apollōnia)
Apollōnia
Apollonia
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun Apollōnia refers to a specific city in ancient Macedonia, mentioned only once in the New Testament at Acts 17:1. It served as a stop on Paul’s journey through that region, situated between Amphipolis and Thessalonica. The name itself is a proper noun identifying this geographic location rather than describing a theological concept or moral quality.
Etymologically, the word derives from Apollōn, the Greek god Apollo, with the suffix indicating belonging or proximity. Thus, the city’s name literally means "belonging to Apollo." This reflects the common ancient practice of naming settlements after local deities, highlighting the pagan cultural context of the area before the spread of Christianity.
Although the text provides no further details about events in Apollonia, its inclusion marks a step in the missionary route. The brevity of the reference underscores how early Christian narratives often recorded travel waypoints without elaboration, focusing instead on the movement of the message across established Roman roads and cities.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Acts 17:1 mentions Apollonia only as a place Paul passed through on his way to Thessalonica. The name itself points to Apollo, a figure from ancient Greek religion, yet the text does not describe any conflict or debate happening there. This quiet mention reminds us that the early church moved through many ordinary places, often without recording dramatic events.
For your own life, this can be encouraging. You may feel that your daily routine lacks significance because nothing extraordinary is happening. Yet, just as Paul’s journey included these unremarkable stops, your faithful presence in everyday settings matters. God uses steady movement and obedience, even when the surroundings seem pagan or indifferent.
Trust that your steps are part of a larger story. Whether you are passing through a difficult season or simply going about your day, your faithfulness is seen. The message of Christ travels through ordinary people in ordinary places, bringing hope where it is needed most.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Apollonia1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἀπολλωνίαν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 17:1
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
This verse records Apollonia as a transit point on Paul’s missionary route, highlighting the practical movement of the gospel through established Roman infrastructure rather than theological discourse.