Background of the Book

Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia. It was probably the fifth largest city in the entire Roman Empire behind Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and Ephesus. Corinth was located at the tip of what is modern-day Greece, about 40 miles west of Athens. The city sat on a narrow strip of land separating the Aegean Sea from the Adriatic Sea, making it both a strategic military location and an important commercial hub for ships traveling east and west. Corinth was significant in the ancient Roman world because of its power, influence, and wealth.