Paul and Silas continue their missionary labours and move on to the city of Thessalonica. He stays here only a short time—just three Sabbath days, Yet in the course of such a short time, a church is founded.
I A MAN OF HABIT.
Paul’s ministry involved the habitual practices specially identified here. There are good habits to have! They were habitual practices that the Lord honoured and which contributed to the establishment of the local church.
1. The Sabbath day. A little of Paul’s practice on the Sabbath day is revealed here. He attended the place of worship. There is unquestionably an application of the 4th commandment to the Christian today. Cp Heb 10:25.
2. Biblical preaching. This too is described as his custom. He went to the house of God to focus upon the word of God, and in his specific case, preach. This is to be our habitual approach to worship.
The Scriptures, v2. This was the source of all he had to say and teach. Cp Luke 4:17, Acts 13:27, 15:21, 26:22.
He reasoned with them. He engaged in a thorough discussion of the word. Here is a careful examination of the text and full communication of its meaning.
He opened up the meaning of the text. This is expositional preaching. Again, the word conveys thoroughness. This must be the preacher’s aim and the audience’s desire. We must know what the word means.
He applied it to effect conviction. His preaching came to a point in an ‘allegation’. He made it to bear upon them. Men must be charged with sin. They must be brought to feel the weight of truth in their own heart.
3. He preached Christ. The message of the Scriptures is succinctly summarized, v3. The substance of Scripture is the work of Christ: the necessity of His death; His resurrection; His being the Messiah—God’s prophet, priest and King for mankind. He sweeps aside erroneous views of the Messiah’s work, insisting on the necessity of His death. It is striking to see the perceived emphasis on the Saviour’s Messianic kingdom, v7. Evidently, He is perceived as a rival to the present ‘King’ – Caesar. Paul presented the claims of King Jesus upon their lives.
These are habits to be carefully cultivated and maintained.
II MAKING AN IMPACT.
1. Some believed, v4. The converts were drawn from several areas of society. The evidence of their faith is their fellowship with the Apostles. Cp 1Jn 1:3. Christians desire the fellowship of saints and of those whose habit it is to open the book to find Christ.
2. Many did not believe and were stirred to hostility. The Jews led in this! Those to whom Paul’s message ought to have been most welcome. They refused their King and preferred Caesar. A strange alliance is formed between the Jews and the lewd fellows. This alliance set the city in an uproar, v5, 8. Often God’s servants are perceived to be troublemakers and yet in reality any trouble is caused by those who oppose the gospel.
3. Jason. Individual believers must be prepared for the fallout from a faithful gospel witness. Possible he is the same as Rom 16:21, a relative. He became Paul’s host in the city. In doing so he exposed himself and his property to opposition and risk. He is freed when he is able to satisfy the magistrates that he and his faith is no threat to good order in the city.
4. Men who were perceived as having turned the world upside down. This gives an insight into the impact of the Apostles’ ministry. What an upheaval resulted from their preaching of Christ. It is a negative perspective—from the sinner’s point of view. They are accused of causing confusion and mayhem.