Thessalonica was an old city. It was a big city. It became our base for three nights as we toured the upper part of Greece. Despite it being huge, it had very few actual biblical sights for us to visit. Maybe there were some that we didn’t know about.

 

The main ancient ruins and archeological area were right in the very middle of town, just down from our hotel, surrounded by typical tall city buildings. (The city accidentally discovered the ruins when they were digging down into the ground in order to build a train station.) You would have to be looking for this site to find it. It didn’t stand out, and there were no other tourists around. Just us!

 

Compared to other ruins, this Agora (marketplace) was quite small and a little bit underwhelming, especially compared to the large marketplace in Philippi, which we had just visited. However, the most visible and outstanding ancient ruin that remained was the small amphitheater on the very edge of the Agora. Small compared, again, to Philippi.

 

But the theater was quaint, and I would have loved to sit a while and read my bible, or have a French Vanilla Latte and listen to a wonderful story or teaching moment about the events that took place there. I would have loved to see it all play out, but only after the fact. Not actually DURING the actual riot in the day. I do not like confrontations or lots of people out of control. So I’m sure that I would have gotten out of Dodge and headed home and locked my doors.

 

The amphitheater was like the anchor of the marketplace, the base of the city. A place that everyone would go to gather and discuss the news and gossip of the day. A great local hangout. A place that people would pass by when they were coming in or out of the city to buy the fresh fruits and veggies for the day for their family.

 

But this little feel-good circle of benches, a place for friends to sit and drink the latte and eat a fresh croissant on the way home for the day, or a place for children to climb the steps and play chase, or perhaps a place for musicians to come and play their instruments, became something else. It became ground zero for a loud and rowdy protest.  A dangerous place! A place where a deadly riot was formed against Paul and his teaching of the Gospel. They meant business!  They wanted to shut Paul up, whatever it took.

 

Can you imagine Paul causing a scene???  Well, technologically, he did not start the riot. The riot started because of his preaching. But still. Paul does not enter a city quietly! He tends to leave a trail. (Hmmm… that could be considered a good thing)

 

So, this city was home to lots of Jews, as opposed to Philippi. The reaction was MUCH different than the response in Philippi, which was mainly Romans and some Greeks. But both places wanted to hurt Paul for what he was doing. The Jews in Thessalonica were still following the Old Testament system of laws, rituals, and sacrifices. They had not bought into the “new” covenant, the system of Grace, Salvation alone, which Jesus brought by his death on the cross. They did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, so they remained in the old legal system and strongly opposed Paul for leading other Jews to the “new” way. They were adamant about defending the “old” way. Everything else was false to them. They actually fought very strongly against the Gospel of Christ alone!

 

It just seems like trouble loves to follow Paul wherever he goes, doesn’t it? He stirs up things. But, the Gospel should “stir up things”, shouldn’t it? Well, anyway, they always knew when Paul was in town!

 

Seeing the layout of this little market area and theater gave us a better idea of just how this crazy riot scene might have played out. This story is full of so much drama and can be found in Acts 17 if you want to read it for yourself. I would highly suggest it.  It’s a great read!