Thessalonica in the book of acts

The king named the city after his wife thessalonike, who was alexander the greats halfsister thessalonica was an autonomous part of the kingdom of macedon until 168 b. The book of acts part 2, galatians and thessalonians free. He lived in thessalonica and was no doubt saved when paul preached there on his second missionary journey. His feast day is july 12 in the roman catholic church, april 28 in the. Consequently, paul had to not only consider the very safety of his own life, but the church in thessalonica as well, forcing him to flee. Some have suggested that a better title might be the acts of the holy spirit. The first scene of the apostles work at thessalonica was the synagogue. The novels protagonist, george, is a simple shoemaker. It chronicles the triumph of the gospel over the hearts of men in a hostile world.

In 168 bc it became the capital of the second district of macedonia and later it was made the capital and major port of the whole roman province of macedonia 146 bc. There were a number of thessalonians who came to faith through pauls ministry in the synagogue some which i take to mean a few jews, a large number of godfearing gentiles, and a number. Thessalonica definition and meaning bible dictionary. Thessalonica thessaloniki was founded around 315 b. Aristarkhos, a greek macedonian of thessalonica, was an early christian mentioned in a few passages of the new testament. But when the jews in thessalonica learned that paul was preaching the word of god at berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them. Luke wasnt a simple historian writing about the birth of the church. The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early christian tradition. Why i want to study the thessalonian epistles acts 16. Acts is the link between the gospels and the epistles. Thessalonica was an autonomous part of the kingdom of macedon until 168 b. It records the second missionary journey of paul, together with silas and timothy.

Since most of the ancient city still lies under modern thessaloniki, it has been impossible to excavate it. But those agitators from thessalonica showed up in berea and started the trouble all over again, so paul went off alone to athens to try preaching to the greeks. Pauls purpose in writing this letter was to encourage the new converts in their trials 3. The town gave its name to the thermaic gulf of the aegean sea, on the shore of which it stood. Polhill even describes pauls abrupt departure from the church in thessalonica due to the rise of the jealous jewish mob which directly correlates to the bond paid by jason in acts 17. The first letter 1 thessalonians was written to a community of believers who had been christians for only a short period of time, probably no more than a few months. The city of thessalonica the city received its name from cassander, king of macedon, who gave its title in honor of his wife, thessalonice. Anyway, jason and aristarchus were both jews from thessalonica, and hethey seem to reappear everywhere except in thessalonica acts 19. As a city, it played a prominent role in the history of the firstcentury christians, especially in the ministry of paul, the christian apostle to the nations. How does the temperament and personality of a city effect how christians share their faith. In time it became an important city because of its strategic location.

Following their release from prison in philippi, paul and silas. Struggling for the good news in thessalonica watchtower. From then on sosipater and jason freely preached the gospel and built up the church in corfu. However, in the center of town a large open area has been excavated revealing a roman forum marketplace, about 70 by 110 yards, which dates to about a. After only a brief time in the city, dangerous opposition arose from those who thought pauls message was a threat to judaism. And when they could not find them, they dragged jason and some of the brethren before the city officials. Now, pauls move from philippi to thessalonica may illustrate one of his principles of action and that was a preference for centers of population.

The book certainly does not tell all the acts of all the apostles. They used their influence to stir up a mob through misrepresentation acts 17. The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early christian tradition uniformly affirmed that luke composed this book as well as the gospel of luke. Lesson 8 the book of acts part 2, galatians, and 1 thessalonians. His feast day is july 12 in the roman catholic church, april 28 in the slavic christian. As i read the account of the birth of the church in thessalonica in the book of acts, i find that my expectations for that church are really low. He seems also to have been with him at corinth, five years afterwards, romans 16. After paul, silas and timothy leave philippi, they travel west through the next two towns. Acts is designed to trace the spread of the gospel from jerusalem to antioch to rome. Jason is a common greek name and it is possible some jews used it as a rough equivalent to joshua.

Acts 17 new international version niv in thessalonica. One of the rival high priests prior to the maccabean revolt was named jason. The gospel is starting to spread, but were getting near the outskirts of it. In 42 bc, after the battle at philippi, thessalonica was made a free city. Acts 17, new international version niv the bible app. A simple outline of the book can be formulated on the basis of jesus statement at acts 1. Constable historical background thessalonica was originally an ancient town named thermai, meaning hot springs. Acts 17 niv in thessalonica when paul and his bible. We can see the book of acts developing in a way that follows the geographical sequence of acts 1. Thessalonica was the chief city and capital of macedonia, about 100 miles from philippi. Paul at thessalonica, or triumphs and troubles of ministry. In 168 bc, the city of thessalonica invited rome to take over their city and help protect it from its enemies. The port city of thessalonica now called salonica or thessaloniki was founded by the macedonian general kassander in celebration of the successful campaigns against the persians 315 bce. Thessalonica international standard bible encyclopedia.

The book of acts part 2, galatians and thessalonians. It is set in a universe closely paralleling our own but one where henotheistic gods impact human affairs thessalonica tells the story of the siege of the christian city in byzantine greece by invading slavs and avars in 597 ce. Paul visited thessalonica with silas and timothy during his second missionary journey, and introduced christianity there. Within the acts of the apostoloi there are theoretical and practical exemplars which the contemporary church may pattern to navigate a pathway to fruitful evangelism and sustainable growth. The unbelieving jews in thessalonica were exceedingly jealous of the success which attended the preaching of the gospel acts 17. The first and second epistles to the thessalonians were written in corinth after timothy offered a good report concerning the welfare of the church. In acts, luke recorded that paul preached for three sabbath days to the jews in the local synagogue acts 17. It is usually maintained that the earlier name of thessalonica was therma or. With thessalonica being the roman capital of the province and the residence of the roman proconsul, as well as a roman military station, the jewish led mob charged that the christians were acting contrary to the decrees of caesar by saying. You can be part of the movement that brings the greatest story of all time to everyone, everywhere, in every language. The king named the city after his wife thessalonike, who was alexander the greats halfsister.

After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving. For luke, in the flow of acts, the story of the thessalonian mission includes a brief report of successful work, but seems dominated by the opposition and rejection. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a jewish synagogue on three successive sabbath days. The book of acts is an adventure thrill ride from start to finish, but we tend to skip over a lot of the incredibly compelling details. In preaching to the thessalonians, paul appealed to the old testament prophecies concerning the messiah. Thessalonica also thessalonike was an ancient city of macedon in northern greece which today is the city of thessaloniki. Jan 08, 2020 when paul was in thessalonica, he received financial support from the christians in philippi philippians 4. Why i want to study the thessalonian epistles acts 16 and 17. Acts 17 is the seventeenth chapter of the acts of the apostles in the new testament of the christian bible. Jason is venerated as a saint in catholic and orthodox traditions. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. Jason suddenly appears in the story in acts 17 as pauls host in thessalonica.

Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced. The journey by night from thessalonica to berea acts 17. The exemplars discussed here, though not exhaustive, may. In the 17th chapter of the book of acts, the title polytarch is used to describe the rulers of a particular city. Now, pauls move from philippi to thessalonica may illustrate one of his principles of action and.

Find out more today how to purchase a hardcover or paperback copy of the acts of the. With the triumphs and expansion of their influence, new wealth poured into macedonia and allowed new. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. Youll notice the scripture reading for today is longer than the others and comes from the book of acts. Christ in his ministry had opened the minds of his disciples to these prophecies. Church growth statements in the book of acts barnes bible charts 2. The evangelization of thessalonica and berea acts 17. What happened in thessalonica the scriptorium daily. Jason of thessalonica was a jewish convert and early christian believer mentioned in the new testament in acts 17. The church was established in the midst of turmoil and problems in the city. Jan 29, 2018 one of those churches was in the port city of thessalonica, the capital of the roman province of macedonia. Whether they were two people or one, the gentile character of the church of thessalonica at the time of 1 thess is explicable of hethey had left town.

Why was thessalonica so critical to the roman empire. Made capital of the roman province of macedon, the city flourished due to its location on the major trade route to the east and continued to thrive as one of the most important cities in the byzantine empire. Rome responded positively, though granting the city considerable freedom to continue running its own affairs. Thessalonica is a historical fantasy novel by harry turtledove and published by baen in 1997. His person and goods were interposed to shield the apostle from the rabble, a. Acts 17 niv in thessalonica when paul and his bible gateway. And so, i encourage you as we are going through the book of acts, to read the apostles letters to the particular churches that are mentioned in the acts. Lets take a look at some of the most intriguing things in acts and develop a new appreciation for this fascinating book. One of those churches was in the port city of thessalonica, the capital of the roman province of macedonia. Thessalonica modern salonica, lies near the ancient site of therma on the thermaic gulf at the northern reaches of the aegean sea. These chapters in acts provide context for our study of 1 and. On arriving there, they went to the jewish synagogue. Pauls newly made converts and gracious hosts were subjected to assault, civil prosecution and economic persecution acts 17. Thessalonica holman bible dictionary bible dictionary.

The spread of the gospel begins at jerusalem, spreads to judea and samaria, and then expands to the other nations of the world. This is lecture eight in the series introducing the new testament. When paul was in thessalonica, he received financial support from the christians in philippi philippians 4. Theres never been much contention about the authorship of acts. According to tradition, jason is numbered among the seventy disciples. Pdf evangelism and church growth in the book of acts. Oct 23, 2009 anyway, jason and aristarchus were both jews from thessalonica, and hethey seem to reappear everywhere except in thessalonica acts 19. The book of acts testifies to the presence of a jewish synagogue there acts 17. First epistle to thessalonians read the bible online. Along with gaius, another macedonian, aristarchus was seized by the mob at ephesus and taken into the theater. Aristarchus, a macedonian from thessalonica, was with us acts 27. Aristachus and secundus of thessalonica believers labored with st. Todays reading from the book of acts gives us the narrative of pauls relationship with the thessalonianshow he planted that church, how the new believers there took his message about the messiah to heart, and how they stayed. Thessalonicas location and use as a port made it a prominent city.