And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night - for it would have been as useless as rash to attempt any further preaching at that time, and the conviction of this probably made his friends the more willing to pledge themselves against any present continuance of missionary effort. It would appear, however, from the First Epistle to the Thessalonians, that the apostle both earnestly desired and confidently expected soon to return-indeed, that he made several efforts toward a return, 'but Satan hindered him' (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18). The cause of this intense anxiety to revisit them was a fear lest the hot persecution to which they were exposed for the Gospel's sake should shake their constancy in the Faith; and such was the pressure of this apprehension upon his spirit, that when he could neither go to them himself, nor abide longer without tidings from them, he sent Timotheus (of whose motions since he was left at Philippi, see the note at Acts 17:14) "to know their faith, lest by any means the tempter should have tempted them, and his labour have been in vain. But when Timotheus came from them to him, and brought him good tidings of their faith and love, and that they had good remembrance of him always, longing to see him, as he also to see them, he was comforted over them in all his affliction and distress by their faith," etc. (1 Thessalonians 3:5-7.)
Unto Berea - upwards of 50 miles southwest of Thessalonica; a town even still of considerable population and importance. At Berea their message meets with enlightened acceptance-A hostile movement, instigated by the unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica, occasions the sudden departure of Paul-He arrives at Athens (17:10-15)
Who coming there went into the synagogue of the Jews - the first thing after their arrival, as the words imply; an act which, in their circumstances, showed unabated courage and confidence in their message.