Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: (2) And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) 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. (6) 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; (7) Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. (8) And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. (9) And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
It doth not appear that Paul, or any of his company, preached in the two first places noticed in this Chapter. Neither have we any mention made of them anymore than here, in all scripture. And what a striking consideration is it, that both those places are now, and for many a generation have been, in the hands of the Turks! I leave the Reader to his own reflections upon the subject.
Thessalonica was the chief city of Macedonia, larger than Philippi. The Jews, it should seem, were very numerous here, and had a Synagogue. And the Apostle, with Silas, and Timotheus, his companions, (see Acts 17:15) during their abode among the Thessalonians, attended the worship in the Synagogues, and most ably preached to them Jesus. I say most ably, for we have full proof of it in both Epistles to the Thessalonians, which Paul afterwards sent to the Church there. I need not make quotations from those blessed writings, for it would swell my Poor Man's Commentary to too large a size. Neither is it necessary, as the Reader can refer to both Epistles in proof. Indeed he would do well to read those Epistles, and this history together. But, of the Apostle's success, the first Chapter of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians, fully proves. And of his labors among them night and day, the second Chapter of the same Epistle very sweetly testifies.
But while we notice with delight and thankfulness the work of the Lord prospering under the hand of his servants, in the call of the Redeemer's people in Thessalonica, I pray the Reader no less to notice with myself the rejection made by the unbelieving Jews. Yes! The word of God so points out the solemn truth: and the earth in every age bears testimony in confirmation. As Paul said, so daily experience, both then and now, proves. We are, (said he), where we make manifest the savor of his knowledge in every place, a sweet savor of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish. To the one, we are the savor of death unto death: and to the other, the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16. Oh! the wonders of distinguishing grace!