Be An Example

How did the Gospel reach Thessalonica?  What was the response? (Acts 17:1-9) 

• Paul and Silas (Silvanus) went to Thessalonica
  • Paul took Timothy, who had a good testimony, along with them
• Paul spoke at the synagogue in Thessalonica for three sabbath days
  • Message: Jesus in the Christ
  • Response
    • Some Jews were persuaded
    • Great number (multitude) of devout Greeks
      • Who were perhaps exploring Judaism
    • And many chief women
• Unpersuaded Jews caused an uproar
  • Paul and Silas had to leave to Beroea (Berea)

 

Thessalonians: Author, audience and time period

• Author: Paul along with Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy
  • Timothy visited Thessalonians and testified about their faith (1 Thess 3:5-7)
• Audience:
  • Assembly of the Thessalonians,
    • a young Church that had very little interaction with Paul
  • Thessalonica was a prosperous free city with no Roman garrison
    • Luke’s accuracy was questioned because of the word politarches
      • An inscription found in Thessalonica affirms Luke
      • Politarches is translated rulers of the city (kjv)
• Time period: 50 BC.  According to scholars, this is probably the first Pauline letter.

What impact did the Gospel have on the Thessalonian assembly? (Acts 17:6, 8-9)

• Work of faith and labor of love
  • Received the word in much affliction (Acts 17:6, 8-9)
    • Jason and certain brothers were “dragged” to rulers of the city
    • Jason and brothers had to give some security?  Probably like bail?
  • Were imitators of Paul and of the Lord
    • This is with just 3 weeks interaction
    • Another example: Samaritan woman. John 4:39-42
• Perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
  • Waiting for His Son from heaven
  • To be delivered from the wrath to come

How did Thessalonian assembly impact the surrounding regions?

• They seem to have sent out missionaries? v8
• Became an example to all who believe in
  • Macedonia and in Achaia
  • To every place their faith toward God has gone out
    • To us too?

Conclusion:

• Am I an imitator of Paul and of the Lord? v6
• Am I an example? v7

Main Passage 1 Thessalonians 1  – World English Bible (WEB)

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father. 4 We know, brothers[a] loved by God, that you are chosen, 5 and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we need not to say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Footnotes

1. 1:4 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

Notes / Cross References

Acts 17:1-13  – World English Bible (WEB)

17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women. 5 But the unpersuaded Jews took along[a] some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people. 6 When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers[b] before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!” 8 The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things. 9 When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.

11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes.

Footnotes

1. 17:5 TR reads “And the Jews who were unpersuaded, becoming envious and taking along” instead of “But the unpersuaded Jews took along”
2. 17:6 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may be also correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”