The World Behind the Story
History. Culture. Belief.
My novels are set in a real world—vivid, complicated, and surprising. Explore the people, places, beliefs, and everyday life that shaped them. Begin with Philippi and Acts 16. More people and places will join this collection as it grows.
Start Here
Begin in Philippi. These three readings move from the city’s Roman identity to a jailer’s crisis, then to a reflection on freedom.
1 · Enter Philippi
Philippi: Rome’s Outpost in Macedonia
See how the city’s Roman identity shaped the setting of Acts 16.
2 · Meet the jailer
The Philippian Jailer and the Earthquake That Changed Everything
An earthquake, an open prison, and a man whose duty seemed to leave him no safe choice.
3 · Consider freedom
A reflection on why Paul and Silas remained when the prison doors opened.
The following articles currently live on Substack. As I revise them, I will bring the collection to this website.
Religion & Belief
Gods, oracles, prophecy, and the rise of Christianity
Public Life
Power, law, and entertainment in the Roman world.
More to Explore
The articles below are currently the only ones here on this website. More paths through the ancient world will join them as this collection grows.
A Lictor’s Duty: Rome’s Rod-Bearers in Acts 16
The rod-bearing officers of Acts 16 were probably Roman lictors. They guarded magistrates, carried the fasces, and enforced Rome's authority in Philippi.
Philippi’s Forum: Politics, Commerce, and Punishment in Acts 16
Philippi's forum was the public heart of the Roman colony. In Acts 16, it became the setting for accusation, crowd pressure, and th eunlawful punishment of Paul and Silas.
Why Paul and Silas were Beaten without a Trial: Colonial Justice in Acts 16
Paul and Silas were publicly beaten and imprisoned before Philippi's magistrates discovered they were Roman citizens. Their mistake reveals how Roman authority, citizenship, and summary punishment worked.
Why Paul Refused a Quiet Release in Philippi
Philippi's magistrates ordered Paul and Silas released quietly. Paul refused. The public beating of two Roman citizens required more than a prison door opened in private.