The Greek proper noun Azotos is the Hellenistic name for the ancient Philistine city of Ashdod — one of the five major Philistine cities on the Mediterranean coastal plain. In the New Testament it appears in the account of Philip the Evangelist after his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch.
Acts 8:40 records that after the Spirit snatched Philip away, 'Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.' The gospel's movement through this formerly Philistine, pagan city illustrates the geographic expansion of the early church.
In the Old Testament, the ark of God was brought to Ashdod after the Philistines captured it (1 Samuel 5), and God's judgment fell through the toppling of Dagon. That Philip would preach the gospel in this very city centuries later pictures Christ's triumph where once the ark brought destruction.