How the Apostle Paul Stopped in Cenchrea for a Haircut

Following the journey of the Apostle Paul through the New Testament we see that Paul is known to have visited some of the biggest cities in the Roman Empire during his travels but one of the lesser-known places he stopped was the port of Cenchrea. Scripture tells us that this was the home of Paul’s traveling companion Phoebe.

I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Ro 16:1-2

While traveling on his second missionary journey, Paul made a stop at Cenchrea to have his hair cut in keeping with a vow he had taken.

So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. Ac 18:18

Cenchrea was located in the Saronic Gulf, though little is left of the ancient city except the port, which was excavated by a team from the American School of Classical Studies in the 1960s. Today, Kechries is a Greek village located where the ancient port of Cenchrea once stood. The city is located 5 miles from modern Corinth, the city to which the Apostle Paul wrote the letters of First and Second Corinthians.

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