Three Weeks in Thessalonica

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. - Acts 17:1-10

    Acts 16 closes with Paul and Silas quietly departing from Philippi. The magistrates there were politically embarrassed when they found out that Paul and Silas, whom they had beaten and imprisoned, were Roman citizens. Had they chosen to do so, Paul and Silas could have caused them much trouble legally and politically. But after receiving a public apology they left the town quietly, once they had visited and comforted Lydia, the first European convert, and the brethren (16:39-40). Philippi would never be the same again. God had graciously saved two households in that city. The households of Lydia and the jailer formed the gospel church at Philippi. They had the responsibility now of continuing and propagating the faith of Christ. They must have assumed their responsibility with great zeal, because soon there was a strong, flourishing church there.

    The missionary trio (Paul, Silas and Timothy) walked through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, one of Macedonia's most populous and important cities. In all they walked about 100 miles to get to Thessalonica, apparently spending two nights on the road (17:1). When they got to Thessalonica they engaged in intensive evangelism, preaching in the Jewish synagogue there for three weeks in a row, every sabbath day (17:2). Traditionally, travelling rabbis were invited to speak at local synagogues as a matter of courtesy when visiting an area. Apparently Paul was asked to speak for that reason. He was obviously well received.

    I . Paul's method of preaching (17:2-3)

    Paul was wise enough to adapt himself to his circumstances and to the needs of the hour. Sometimes he stood before an assembly and preached lengthy discourses (13:16-41). But there are other methods of preaching. At Thessalonica we are told that his preaching included three things: 'He reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening,' or explaining the message of the Scriptures, 'and alleging' that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.

    Paul's first technique in preaching was reasoning. The word translated 'reason' here is the one from which we get the English word 'dialogue'. It has the idea of give-and-take conversation. The sense of Luke's words is that, using the Old Testament, with which the Jews were thoroughly familiar, Paul reasoned with them. He listened to their arguments and patiently refuted them by the Word of God.

    His second tactic was opening, or explaining the Word of God. The word that is translated 'opening' is very strong. It means 'to expand' or 'to force open'. When the Scriptures were read, Paul opened up and explained their meaning. That is what preaching is. It is opening the Scriptures, and thus opening the understanding of one's hearers to see that all the Scriptures speak of Christ's sufferings, death and resurrection glory (Luke 24:27,44-47).

    Thirdly, the apostle's method in preaching was alleging. He alleged, or proved from the Old Testament Scriptures, the necessity of Christ's sin-atoning death and triumphant resurrection. This word, 'allege', means 'to put alongside'. In preaching at Thessalonica Paul compared spiritual things with spiritual (1 Cor. 2:13). He took a text from Isaiah and compared it with one from Daniel and put alongside them some passages from the Psalms or one of the other prophets—thus alleging, or proving from the Word of God, the necessity of Christ's redemptive work.

    2. Some believed and some did not believe (17:4-9)

    Wherever Christ comes and wherever he is faithfully preached, there is a division because of him (John 7:43). The preaching of the gospel humbles some and brings them to repentance while it hardens others (2 Cor. 2:14-16). The difference between those who believe and those who do not is the distinguishing grace of God (1 Cor. 4:7). Some of the Jews, many of the Gentiles and several women, being chosen, redeemed and called by the grace of God, were persuaded by Paul's doctrine and identified themselves with Christ and his servants (17:4). However, those who did not believe were by no means indifferent. Not only did they not believe the gospel, they set themselves in opposition to it. How often this is repeated! Unbelief hardens into resentment, and resentment breaks out in malicious abuse. The unbelieving Jews apparently had connections with the criminal element in the city. They hired some street thugs to stir up trouble and assault the house of Jason, where Paul, Silas and Timothy were staying (17:5). This stirring of violence and slander was caused by religious, churchgoing people. When they could not refute the doctrine of Christ and would not give up their false religion, their hearts, filled with hatred for God and his gospel, erupted in cruel and vicious attacks upon God's messengers. Any preacher who has preached free grace to a congregation of those who believe a free-will religion of works knows exactly what happened at Thessalonica!

    The malicious mob did not find the preachers at home, so they arrested Jason and some of the brethren because of their association with God's servants. Deliberately twisting Paul's words and his doctrines, they accused the saints of God of insurrection and riotousness, as promoters of evil things (17:6-8). Since the days of our Lord, this has been the common tactic of religious men against Christ and the gospel of his grace (Luke 23:2; John 19:12; Rom. 3:8). Jason and the brethren were released on bail (17:9). To avoid further trouble for Jason and the young believers at Thessalonica, Paul, Silas and Timothy slipped out of town under cover of darkness and went to Berea (17: 10).

    3. The charge made against God's church by her enemies was a charge that greatly honoured her

    The mob cried out against Paul, Silas, Timothy and the believing men and women at Thessalonica, 'These ...have turned the world upside down' (17:6). Would to God the church today had a reputation for turning the world upside down! Instead, the church today has made peace with the world, walks hand in hand with the world and has married the world. Fire and zeal for the glory of God have been drowned in the flood of compromise and conciliation. Instead of setting the world on fire with the truth of God, the church today warms itself with the fires of the world, fires fuelled by burning God's truth! The church of our day has betrayed Christ, betrayed the souls of men and betrayed the gospel of the grace of God. All has been sold for the silver of praise, popularity and worldly recognition!

    4. The church today needs men who will, with the reason, force and persuasion of Holy Scripture, preach the gospel of Christ, as Paul did in the synagogue at Thessalonica

    The basis of Paul's appeal to men was the Word of God alone. He reasoned with his hearers out of the Scriptures (17:2). The Bible is the only source of divine truth in this world. God's preachers appeal to no other authority (Isa. 8:20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). The message Paul preached was Jesus Christ and him crucified (17:3; 1 Cor. 2:2). He showed from the Word of God the necessity of Christ's substitutionary death. According to the Word of God four things necessitated Christ's death on the cross: God's decree (1Peter 1:18-20; Acts 2:23); Christ's voluntary engagements to become a surety for his people (Isa. 50:5-7; John 10:16-18; 12:27-28); the Old Testament prophets (Mark 14:49; Luke 24:44); and the justice of God (Rom. 3:24-26; Gal. 3:21). Paul boldly pressed upon his hearers the claims of Christ the King, demanding immediate and total surrender to him as Lord. Blessed are the people to whom God sends such a preacher!