New Testament in a Year

Chapter 17

Paul in Thessalonica.^{[a] 1} After they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they reached Thessalonica^[b] where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² Following his usual practice, Paul went in, and for three Sabbaths he argued with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead. “And the Christ,” he said, “is this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.” ⁴ Some of them were convinced and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many God-fearing Greeks as well as not a few prominent women.

⁵ However, the Jews became jealous, and they recruited some ruffians from the marketplace, formed a mob, and soon had the city in an uproar. They stormed Jason’s house, intending to bring them out before the crowd. ⁶ And when they could not find them there, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren before the city magistrates, shouting, “These people who have been causing trouble all over the world have come here also, ⁷ and Jason has given them shelter. They are all acting in opposition to the decrees of Caesar, claiming that there is another king named Jesus.” ⁸ Upon hearing this, the mob and the magistrates were greatly agitated. ⁹ They then took a bond from Jason and the others before releasing them.

¹⁰ Paul in Beroea. As soon as it got dark, the brethren sent Paul and Silas away to Beroea. Upon their arrival, they immediately went to the Jewish synagogue. ¹¹ The people there were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They received the word with great eagerness, and they examined the Scriptures every day to check whether these things were so. ¹² Many of them became believers, as did a considerable number of influential Greek women and men.

¹³ However, when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was being proclaimed by Paul in Beroea, they followed him there to cause trouble and stir up the crowds. ¹⁴ Therefore, the brethren immediately sent Paul on his way to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. ¹⁵ After Paul’s escorts brought him as far as Athens, they returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.