When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.”
Acts 17:1-4 NIV
Thessalonica…conflict and conquest! On and on went the foot soldiers of Jesus…sowing the powerful seeds of truth that would take root and grow in dark places.
“Thessalonica (modern-day Thessaloniki) was a major ancient port city in northern Greece, located at the head of the Thermaic Gulf. Founded around 315–316 BC by Cassander, it became the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia, a crucial hub on the Egnatian Way (Via Egnatia), and a significant center for early Christianity visited by Apostle Paul.” (Source:,Google AI)
As was his pattern, Paul went first to the Jewish synagogue. He never lost his passion to share the gospel with his Jewish compatriots.
“I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.”
Romans 9:1-4 NIV
…And…once again…the battle lines were drawn. Some Jews believed the message and received the gift of eternal life. Others not only resisted the message but also vehemently opposed the messengers. How true to life their reaction was! When the truth hits home, those who hate the truth will attack the ones who carry its message. They will use lies and violence to try to silence their own conscience.
“But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.”
Acts 17:5-9 NIV
Well! That didn’t work either. The seed was sown. The church was born. The word of God had done its work in the soil of honest hearts. In the Bible, we have the written record of this church’s existence and growth, and, specifically, Paul’s immortal teaching about the second coming of Jesus in his letters to people who had become very precious to him.
The ones who had believed had become steadfast and faithful followers of Jesus. Their love was real and strong…and Paul urged them to keep going more and more. They bore the real fruit in their lives of their faith in Jesus.
“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NIV
Those who resisted the gospel pushed back with violence and lying accusations.
“But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.”
The situation became so dangerous for Paul and Silas that the believers in Thessalonica sent them away to Berea after dark.
“As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.”
Acts 17:10-12 NIV
What a difference! The Jews in Berea were far more open-minded to receive the gospel than their counterparts in Thessalonica. Not only did they listen attentively to Paul’s preaching, but they also checked the Tanach to verify the truth of what Paul was telling them.
What a model for us to follow! The Bereans got it right. This is the way to deal with the message modern-day preachers are delivering. Check it out against God’s word. Hold fast to truth and dismiss what is false and misleading.
“Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 NIV
Against the backdrop of the honest search for truth of the Bereans, in his letters, Paul urged the Thessalonians to act in the same way. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water but…don’t swallow everything you are told without verifying its truth against the Word.
“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1 NIV
How much error we would avoid if if we adopted the same attitude as the Bereans.
To be continued