Context: What did Paul and Silas face in Philippi & Thessalonica? (v2, Acts 16:19-24, 17:5-7)
- Per Paul’s letter to Thessalonians about Philippi:
- Philippi: Suffered and Shamefully treated
- Per Luke in Acts about Philippi and Thessalonians:
- Seized and dragged into the marketplace
- Unjustly blamed
- Blamed for being Jews and not like Romans
- Interestingly, Paul was a Roman which they didn’t realize
- Blamed for being Jews and not like Romans
- Multitude rose up against them
- Tore their clothes and beat them up with rods, with many stripes
- Got thrown in prison and the jailer was charged to keep them safe so
- He threw them in the inner prison
- Secured their feet in the stocks
- And the Jews who were unpersuaded, becoming envious and taking along
- Blame: Act contrary to the decrees of Caesar
- Preach that there is another king, Jesus!
- Blame: Act contrary to the decrees of Caesar
How did the experience at Philippi change Paul and Silas? (v2)
- They grew bold – to preach Good News even in the middle of conflict!
- They didn’t head back but rather pushed forward into Thessalonica
- Paul was committed to the Lord’s call to bring Good News to Macedonia
- And Paul’s efforts “wasn’t in vain” v1
What was different about Paul and his teaching? (v3-6)
- It was not based on
- Error (Incorrect Theology)
- Uncleanness or (Customs that were different from either Jews or Romans)
- Deception (as in the case of the girl with the spirit in Philippi)
- Not pleasing men – for than there is no reason for the persecution
- But approved by and pleasing God. Approved: Tested and found to be genuine.
- Without words of flattery.
- Nor a cloak of covetousness – not to make money of a prosperous city/people group
- Didn’t seek glory from any one – believers or others
- Not leveraging their role and title / even though he could have as Apostle
How did Paul treat the assembly at Thessalonica? (v7-12)
- Like a mother: gentle
- Affectionately longing. As they had to leave because of the commotion caused.
- They didn’t just share the Gospel. But poured out their soul because of their love.
- They were not a burden. Working day and night to support themselves.
- Holy, righteously and blamelessly
- Like a father: exhorted, comforted and implored
- So that they walk worthy of God!
Conclusion:
- Paul had a clear goal, Gospel to Macedonial. Suffering only made him bolder.
- Paul set an example on how to treat a believer / assembly
- Not like an apostle with authority but like a mother and a father.
Main Passage 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 – World English Bible (WEB)
2 For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain, 2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. 4 But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. 5 For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), 6 nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
8 Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God. 10 You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe. 11 As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.
Notes / Cross References
Acts 16:9-12 – World English Bible (WEB)
9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them. 11 Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
Acts 16:16-24 – World English Bible (WEB)
16 As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. 17 Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!” 18 She was doing this for many days.
But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city 21 and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”
22 The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, 24 who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.
Acts 17:5-7 – World English Bible (WEB)
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 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!”
