The ancient city of Corinth was the capital for the Roman province of Achaia (which included the Peloponnesian Peninsula as well as the southern region of mainland Greece). As a result, there would have been a large military presence in the city. It would have been common to see military personnel and soldiers in uniform strolling the streets of the city. Shopping in the Agora … one would have seen Roman soldiers purchasing produce as well. Visiting the Roman bath in the South Stoa … no doubt one would have seen Roman soldiers there as well.
The city of Corinth was located at a very narrow isthmus which connects the Peloponnesian Peninsula (to the south) with the rest of mainland Greece (to the north). This was a very strategic location … functioning as a land “gateway.” Travelers leaving the peninsula heading north to mainland Greece would have passed through Corinth. And likewise, those traveling from the mainland to the peninsula would have passed through Corinth.
As a result, it would have been common to see all kinds of different people from all kinds of different places strolling the streets of the city. Ideas would have been shared and swapped from different parts of the world, as people visited together in the Roman baths. Shop merchants and restauranteurs would have become wealthy from the high volume of travelers!
Additionally, being located on the very narrow isthmus, Corinth had a strategic advantage of offering portage for ships across the isthmus to the other side. Sailors, ship captains, and ship merchants would have been among those strolling the streets of the city, as they passed through on their way to far-off destinations.
Drinks would have been shared by seafarers, as they swapped tales together. Dock workers and slaves who toiled unloading the ships of their cargo, portaging the ships across the isthmus, and re-loading the cargo on the other side would have been a common sight around Corinth.
It has already been discussed the large numbers of prostitutes who served the goddess Aphrodite in the temple high atop the Acrocorinth. These temple workers would also have been a common sight around the city of Corinth.
– Roman military personnel and soldiers in uniform
– Roman government officials
– Travelers passing through by land
– Travelers passing through by sea
– Ship captains
– Ship merchants
– Sailors
– Dock laborers
– Slaves hauling ships across the isthmus
– Prostitutes
– Wealthy business owners
– Restaurateurs
– Slaves working the bath houses
etc. …
With such a mixed diversity of people, would it surprise you to know that the city of Corinth also had a very devout religious Jewish community?
Aquila and Priscilla were a Jewish couple who had been living in Rome but recently were evicted from the city of Rome by order of the emperor Claudius. Needing a new place to live, they decided to relocate to the city of Corinth … probably because Corinth provided a good market for their tent-making business. But also, probably because of the strong Jewish community in Corinth.
When the Apostle Paul first arrived in Corinth, we see that the first friendships he made there were with Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-3). No doubt Paul met Aquila and Priscilla on the Sabbath at the Jewish synagogue.
Upon arriving in this busting diverse city of Corinth, the first place Paul went to find connection and build friendships was the Jewish synagogue.
“Every Sabbath he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.” – Acts 18:4
“When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
“But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’
“Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.” – Acts 18:5-8
I do not know if the Jewish synagogue of ancient Corinth has been found or excavated. But perhaps we might imagine that these ruins here might have been something like where the Jewish synagogue of Corinth might have once been.
So … who were the people of Corinth? Military personnel, soldiers, government officials, ship captains, sailors, dock workers, travelers, merchants, prostitutes, slaves, etc. …
We can add to the above list:
– Devout religious Jewish people
– Curious people who also attended synagogue alongside the devout religious Jewish people
– Jewish people who had been displaced from Rome
– Jewish people who upon hearing the good news of Jesus Christ believed
– Curious people of Corinth who upon hearing the good news of Jesus Christ believed
– The Jewish synagogue ruler who heard the good news of Jesus Christ and believed.
– Entire households of people who heard the good news of Jesus Christ and believed.
These all were the people of Corinth.
