26 July. Paul talks about his recent visit to Thessalonica
"Brothers and sisters, you know our visit to you was not a failure [see Acts 17:1-10]. Before we came to you, we suffered in Philippi [see Acts 16:16-40]. People there insulted us, as you know, and many people were against us. But our God helped us to be brave and to tell you his Good News."
"Our appeal does not come from lies or wrong reasons, nor were we trying to trick you. But we speak the Good News because God tested us and trusted us to do it."
"When we speak, we are not trying to please people, but God, who tests our hearts. You know that we never tried to influence you by saying nice things about you. We were not trying to get your money; we had no selfishness to hide from you..."
"But we were very gentle with you, like a mother caring for her little children... You had become so dear to us!... You know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We encouraged you, we told you and we insisted that you live good lives for God, who calls you to his glorious kingdom..."
"Brothers and sisters, Your experiences have been like those of God's churches in Christ that are in Judea. You suffered from the people of your own country, as they suffered from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and forced us to leave that country."
"They do not please God and are against all people. They try to stop us from teaching those who are not Jews so they may be saved. By doing this, they are increasing their sins to the limit. The anger of God has come to them at last."
(1 Thessalonians 2:1-16)
Paul starts the next part of his First Letter to the Thessalonians by referring to the ill treatment he received in Philippi before arriving in Thessalonica on his Second Missionary Journey in 51AD (see Acts 16:16-40), and he mentions the opposition he encountered in Thessalonica (see Acts 17:5-9).
In the first case, in Philippi, he was attacked by the owners of a slave girl he had set free from a spirit of fortune-telling, and imprisoned by the Roman authorities. In the second case, he was attacked by jealous Jews who persuaded a mob to start a riot, and insisted that the Romans then blamed Paul and his host, Jason.
Paul tells the new believers in Thessalonica that they are suffering similar persecution. The persecution they are being subjected to by leading Jews in Thessalonica (see Acts 17:1-9) is just the same as the believers in Judaea have suffered at the hands of the Jews there (see Acts 12:1-5).
But they are not to worry or be dismayed, because these Jews are not pleasing God by their actions; indeed, they are heaping God's wrath on their own heads by opposing God's own message which is at work in the hearts of the believers.
The photo shows the Roman Agora at Philippi where Paul was arrested on his Second Missionary Journey.
You can read more about this journey starting @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/paul-starts-his-2nd-miss…/