I Thessalonians (continued) to Philippi — certainly not later than the autumn of 52 A.D. Here their min istry was ended by a severe beating, imprisonment, and finally deliverance with an invitation to leave the city. The group made their way in a south westerly direction to Thessalonica. Here they went to the synagogue of the Jews and began to preach the Gospel, “Op ening and alleging (out of the Scrip tures), that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus . . . is Christ” (Acts 17:3). Paul declares that he preached the Gospel unto them in much agony (I Thess. 2:2). This was approximately in the spring of the year 53 A.D. For three Sabbath days, Paul entered the synagogue of the Jews and reason ed with them out of the Scriptures. As far as the Scripture implies, this is the length of his stay in Thessalonica, but it would seem that a longer time would be necessary to convert some of the Jews, the chief women of the city, and proselytes and heathen to be turned from their idols to the living God. On the other hand, Paul’s reference
to the power of the Gospel may imply that the time was very brief. But the final repudiation of the doctrine by the Jews and the subsequent riot, drove him from the city. The very success of the mission is the reason why the Jews opposed the Apostle. Luke says they were “. . . moved with envy . . (Acts 17:5). Missionaries, through the years, have faced similar obstacles, yet have established churches among most of the peoples of the world. The point of contact of the Apostles with the people was the synagogue. Here the people are described as “. . . having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost” (I Thess. 1:6). Their affliction arose from those who rejected the Gospel; their joy arose from ■daily receiving the Gospel and experiencing the work of the Holy Ghost in their hearts. Thus, both Paul’s opportunity and opposition stemmed from the same point, namely, the synagogue. Paul’s physical condition is referred to in I Thess. 1:9. He reached Thessa lonica in much Dain due to the beat-
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