Paul preached in the synagogue on the Sabbath, as was his custom, when he first arrived in the city of Thessalonica. He would preach to the Jews first, then the Gentiles. There were many who accepted his teaching, but of course… NOT everyone.

 

Soon,  some of the “nots” (not = like a knot on a log), the unbelieving, unaccepting, unwilling Jews in the city were not happy with his “Gospel” teaching. He had a good following of those who believed, and the Jewish leaders became jealous of him.

 

So, what did they do? What most jealous people try to do to those they consider enemies…  they try to get rid of them.

 

They gathered together a group of “loafers” (That’s what the text says, and there is no need for a definition!), who were hanging around town doing nothing. They used them to form a violent mob to come against Paul. (I find it interesting that in 2 Thess 3, Paul addresses “idleness” in the church. Are idle people and loafers considered the same? Was this a common trait in that city? Either way, both are not a good thing.)

 

So anyway, they formed a wild mob of “up-to-no-good”. Perhaps a paid mob of protesters. (Money talks). The wild and crazy mob of misfits, outsiders, loafers, and the “do-anything-for-money” people went to Jason’s house, a friend of Paul’s, where Paul was staying. They planned to seize him and force him into the city to face this wild bunch of crazies, but he was not at Jason’s house. (He was probably out preaching somewhere.)

 

So, since Paul was not there, they instead dragged Jason out to the amphitheater since he was a friend and an accomplice, if you will, of Paul’s.

 

The theater was filled with a loud and chaotic group of people that the Jews had rounded up, including anyone and everyone they could find. Most of them had no idea, even, why they were there, which added to the chaos. People seem to easily jump on the bandwagon without understanding or knowledge. The old saying, “If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?” Apparently, the answer to that question is “yes”.

 

Chaos and craziness are actually pretty easy to gather together quickly. Reasons and explanations are not needed when it comes to chaos. When Jason was delivered to the theater, the “crazies” began to scream loud accusations and threats against Jason, and it quickly got out of hand. More out of hand!

 

So, the believers and friends of Paul found him and advised him to get out of town for fear of his life. Paul wanted to go to the theater and speak to the people, but his friends knew he would be walking into a death trap if he went, and they would not allow him to go. They planned, instead, a way of escape out of the city.

 

Paul was disheartened that he was unable to finish his ministry of disciplining and teaching all the new converts. He had just established a church, and they needed a lot of guidance as new Christians. Something that Paul loved to do. He already had a heart for the new church.

 

Paul was unable to stay any longer because of the threats against him, but he would soon send his traveling companion, Timothy, to personally check on them. He would also write a couple of letters (1&2 Thessalonica) to encourage them and to sort out some major spiritual misunderstandings they had.

 

They ended up being a really messed-up church and had lots of problems with bad theology. Perhaps because they did not get all the training that was needed in the beginning.

 

The new church faced many issues. And the city of Thessalonica didn’t seem like just a friendly place to live. Probably not high on the list of top places to raise a family. And I’m just guessing that the Jewish Synagogue did not name their place of meeting “First Friendship Synagogue of Thessalonica”.

 

Paul left Thessalonica. That was not his plan. He wanted to stay and continue to teach the new converts. He still had so much that he wanted to teach them, and that they needed to learn, but it seemed like the right decision. Paul established the church, but he would have to trust the Lord and leave it in His hands.

 

Paul’s next stop… the small, quiet town of Berea. I wonder what kind of trouble he will get into there? We will find out next!