Paul and Silas in Thessalonica
Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.”
Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women. But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”
The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.
Acts 17:1-9
Paul and Silas in Berea
That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.
Acts 17:10-15
Paul in Athens
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there. He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and His resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.” Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.”
(It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)
Acts 17:16-21
After reading Luke’s account of the time in Philippi and Paul’s letter to the Philippians you ought to have lots of questions. Here are the questions so far:
- How long did Paul and Silas stay in Philippi?
- Was this their only visit?
- Do they go back again?
- Paul’s letter to the Philippians is very positive, without any rebuke or criticism. He appears to have a good, close personal relationship with them. How was it such a close relationship developed in so short a time?
- Is there more to what you asked us to do Ian, related to reading the book of Philippians or is that it?
- You asked us to ponder on the way Acts Chapter 16 was written: fast, punchy with frenetic pace. Is that all we are going to do with that suggestion?
- I hope there is so much more you want to know before we move on accompanying Paul on his rather strange lifestyle.
- Well as we pause at the train station in Philippi before heading off to Amphipolis, Apollonia and Thessalonica do some research.
If you have an electronic Bible do these things:
- Do a Bible search on <Philippi> and see what you find. (That alone might answer a number of your questions)
- Acts 16:12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.
- Acts 20:6 After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.
- Philippians 1:1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.
- 1Thessalonians 2:2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare His Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.
2. Do a Bible search on <Macedonia> and <Macedonians>.
- Acts 16:9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
- Acts 16:10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.
- Acts 16:12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.
- Acts 18:5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
- Acts 19:21 Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!”
- Acts 19:22 He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.
- Acts 19:29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
- Acts 20:1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia.
- Acts 20:3 where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.
- Acts 20:6 After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.
- Romans 15:26 For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.
- 1 Corinthians 16:5 I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia.
- 2 Corinthians 1:16 first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea.
- 2 Corinthians 2:13 But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.
- 2 Corinthians 7:5 When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.
- 2 Corinthians 8:1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in His kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.
- 2 Corinthians 9:2 For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.
- 2 Corinthians 11:9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be.
- Philippians 4:15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it,
- 1 Thessalonians 4:10 Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
- 1 Timothy 1:3 When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth.
3. Read back through Acts 16 to see if there is any indication of how long Paul and Silas were there in Philippi.
Paul and Silas first went to Philippi on Paul’s second journey in about AD 50 and they stayed for several days (Acts 16:12) in Lydia’s house. They put up with the slave girl pursuing them day after day during that first visit (Acts 16:18). After the final encounter with the slave girl they were put in jail overnight and released the next morning. Following which they stayed with the believers for a while longer and then moved on. This is the point where we are waiting in Philippi to take stock of the time frame. Paul was back in Philippi again about five years later while he went back through the area of Macedonia (Acts 20:1-2) and once more found himself back in Philippi on his return journey visiting the places they had stopped in on the way down. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. (Acts 20:1) While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he stayed for three months. (Acts 20:2-3).
He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia. (v 3)
Several men were traveling with him. Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. (vs 4). They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. (vs 5). After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week. (vs 6)
Two of you asked about whether Silas was with Paul all of that time or not? Here is the evidence for you to sift through.
- Acts 15:22 Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.
- Acts 15:27 We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.
- Acts 15:32 Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.
- Acts 15:34 [But Silas decided to stay there.]
- Acts 15:40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.
- Acts 16:6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.
- Acts 16:19 Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.
- Acts 16:22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.
- Acts 16:25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.
- Acts 16:29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
- Acts 16:36 So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.”
- Acts 16:38 When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
- Acts 16:40 When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.
- Acts 17:1 Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
- Acts 17:4 Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.
- Acts 17:5 But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd.
- Acts 17:6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too.
- Acts 17:10 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.
- Acts 17:11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
- Acts 17:14 The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind.
- Acts 17:15 Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.
- Acts 18:5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
The letter to the Philippians was probably written about AD 61 while Paul was under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:16). The time Paul spent with the Philippians was only fleeting. Paul did not stay with them for a significant period of time. Yet he has such a strong bond with therm. Why is that?
Having laid out all the internal evidence for you, in other words all the evidence found in the Bible itself, I will leave you to ponder this question for yourself. Two of you who don’t have E-Sword have asked if I was going to give you the information that is available through E-Sword – I have now done that. You now have all the evidence to ponder on the curious relationship between Paul, Philippi and the Philippians. As to why there is a such a strong bond between them despite the contact time between them with Paul in Philippi itself for only a matter of days and weeks and not months or years. Also you have three days to ponder the matter at the railway station in Philippi while we wait before moving on to Amphipolis, Apollonia and Thessalonica. One person has asked me about my comment regarding the railway station. The train is available to us as time travelers whereas it was not available for Paul and Silas at the time. It is what enables us to flit between 2016 and AD 50 with ease. Who knows it may enable us to run into Paul and Silas by chance if we pass through the time warp at the right time. Then you will be able to get all your questions answered before you get to heaven. That is if Paul has time because no doubt he was always on the way to somewhere. Besides you had better be prepared to spend a night in jail if you want to ask him something in depth because that was where he often stayed.
I will tell you why I think Paul bonded with the Philippians in the next Gem before we head to Amphipolis.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
That’s what God has His Body for.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that need further development.
We provide the yeast of faith that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
What we do may be incomplete but it is a beginning, a step along the way.
An opportunity for the LORD’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Bishop Untener
God is working on your problem. Stay calm. Stay sweet. Stay out of fear and keep on keeping on.
Joyce Meyer
God, teach me to thank you for your “no’s”… I now realize that they were blessings in disguise.
Kirk Franklin
Sometimes God will let you experience the impossible, so you can know He is the God of impossibility.
Kirk Franklin