### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **Apollōnía**, represented by `{{G624}}`, refers to **Apollonia, a place in Macedonia**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible. The name is derived from the pagan deity Apollo, as its base definition notes it is "from the pagan deity (i.e. the sun; from ἀπόλλυμι)".
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole mention of `{{G624}}` occurs within the narrative of Paul's missionary travels in the book of Acts. In [[Acts 17:1]], **Apollonia** is identified as a city that Paul and his companions passed through after leaving Amphipolis. This brief mention marks a point along their journey as they **came to** Thessalonica, where their next phase of ministry would begin in a synagogue of the Jews.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help place `{{G624}}` in its immediate context:
* `{{G295}}` **Amphípolis** (a city surrounded by a river; Amphipolis, a place in Macedonia): This city is mentioned directly before Apollonia, establishing the route of the journey [[Acts 17:1]].
* `{{G1353}}` **diodeúō** (to travel through): This verb describes the action taken by the travelers as they **passed through** both Amphipolis and Apollonia [[Acts 17:1]].
* `{{G2332}}` **Thessaloníkē** (Thessalonice, a place in Asia Minor): This was the destination city where the travelers **came** after passing through Apollonia, setting the stage for the following events [[Acts 17:1]].
* `{{G4864}}` **synagōgḗ** (an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish "synagogue"): The immediate objective upon arriving in Thessalonica was to locate the **synagogue**, a central point for their ministry to the Jews [[Acts 17:1]].
### Theological Significance
While not a theological term, the significance of `{{G624}}` is primarily geographical and narrative:
* **Geographical Marker:** The inclusion of **Apollonia** provides a specific, real-world point on the map, outlining the path of Paul's second missionary journey through Macedonia [[Acts 17:1]].
* **Narrative Progression:** It functions as a stepping stone in the story, showing the deliberate movement from one location to another as Paul and his companions made their way to the more significant center of Thessalonica.
* **Historical Grounding:** By naming actual places like **Apollonia**, the biblical account is firmly rooted in verifiable history and geography, reinforcing the authenticity of the apostles' travels.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G624}}` is a geographical reference rather than a word rich with symbolic meaning. Its importance lies in the historical precision it lends to the biblical record. Though simply a city that was **passed through**, the mention of Apollonia contributes to the detailed and credible account of the gospel's expansion from its origins into the wider world, as documented in Acts [[Acts 17:1]].
TRV