And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
And then immediately the brethren - the converts gathered at Berea.
Sent away Paul - as had been done before from Jerusalem (Acts 9:30), and from Thessalonica (Acts 17:10). How long he stayed at Berea we know not; but as we know that he longed and expected soon to return to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:17), it is probable he remained some weeks at least, and only abandoned his intention of revisiting Thessalonica at that time when the virulence of his enemies there, stimulated by his success at Beroea, brought them down there to counterwork him.
To go as it were to the sea, х hoos (G5613) epi (G1909) teen (G3588) thalassan (G2281)]. The precise idea intended to be conveyed by this phrase is not very clear. That it was only a feint (as some critics think) can hardly be the meaning. But whether it means that he was sent only in the direction of the sea, with the view of skirting along the coast by a land journey (as others think), or that he did proceed to Athens by sea (as most understand the phrase) must be left in some doubt. The land journey was certainly a long one (not less than 250 miles), while with a fair wind they might reach Athens in three days. Perhaps it had not been determined, until he should reach the coast, what direction he should next take; and it may have been the mere providence of God, presenting to him a vessel hound for Athens, that fixed him to proceed there. It is in favour of this view that it was not until his arrival at that capital that the convoy of Berean brethren, who had accompanied him thus far, were sent back to Beroea to bid Silas and Timotheus follow him there.
But Silas and Timotheus abode there still - to encourage the converts, and cherish, as at Philippi, the work accomplished, But how came Timotheus to be here at all? We left him at Philippi with Luke, when Paul took his departure (see the note at Acts 16:40). We have seen (at Acts 17:4) that during the apostle's stay at Thessalonica, brief though it was, the Philippians "sent once and again to his necessity" (Philippians 4:16). Their first contribution was probably despatched by Timothy soon after the apostle left them, and merely as a love-token; taking the advantage of Timothy's departure to rejoin his great co-adjutor. But on finding that the very success of the apostle at Thessalonica had so abridged his time for working at his craft, that though he laboured hard he would earn little, it is likely that Timothy returned to Philippi, partly to tell the good news, and partly to represent the temporal circumstances of their father in the Faith; and if they sent him back with a fresh contribution, that would both explain his statement in Philippians 4:16, and show how Timothy came to be at Thessalonica. Whether he went with Paul and Silas to Beroea, or followed them there, is not said. But here he was left with Silas when Paul went to Athens.