Thessalonica Acts 17:1. 11. 13; 27:2; Philippians 4:16: 1 and 2 Thessalonians; 2 Timothy 4:10
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). With the triumphs and expansion of their influence, new wealth
poured into Macedonia and allowed new settlements to be established.
This port was constructed on the Thermaic Gulf and knitt
ed
together twenty-six villages (including a village called "Thermae"
by Herodotus - C5 BCE in his book Polymnia -the description of
Xerxes expedition against Greece) as the main seaport and naval base
of Macedonia.
The original villages were Doric settlements of the period of
Macedonian Kings (C5-4 BCE). The new city was named after his wife (Thessalonike,
daughter of Philip II and half sister of Alexander the Great).
As the successor of Alexander the Great, Kassander had considerable
resources. He erected a massive wall around the city. The position
of the city only improved with the completion of the "Egnatian Way"
which made the port easily accessible to other Macedonian cities.
The "Via Egnatia" ran through the city and can still be seen today.
Strabo the geographer (C1 BCE) in "Geographic Elements" referred to
the port as the "Metropolis of Macedonia".
The Celts attacked the city and smashed many of the defenses and
walls (during the battle in which Ptolemaeus - "the Thunderbolt" was
killed) but were turned back by the defenders of the
town.
Even the Romans were repelled in their early advances, but the city
was surrendered after Perseus (King of Macedonia) was defeated at
Pydna in 168 BCE. Under the Roman Empire, Thessalonica became the
capital city of the Roman province of Macedonia (146 BCE).
The city was referred to as the "Mother of Macedonia" in Roman
writings. The orator Cicero stayed here and delivered oratory. With
the rise of the Roman Civil War (49-31 BCE) Thessalonica backed
Antony and Octavian (who stayed in Thessalonica after their
victory). Later, the "Gate of Axous" (arch) was erected to
commemorate victory at the Battle of Philippi (42 BCE). Octavian
declared Thessalonica a "free city" under Politarchs (Magistrates).
Thessalonica was a wealthy city and had a Roman, Greek and Jewish
population. After 42 BCE, Thessalonica enjoyed liberty as a free
city with a large population. St. Paul used the city as a gateway to
reach the region. Recent excavations uncovered mile markers that say
Thessalonica was the halfway point in the travel along the Via
Egnatia (they said there was a distance of 260 Roman miles in either
direction to end points).
St. Paul came to Thessalonica from Philippi (probably in 50 CE). He
went to the synagogue for three Sabbath days (Acts 17:1-9). In
Thessalonica, some proselyte Greeks and the chief women believed St.
Paul's preaching. The Jews who did not believe caused uproar in the
city and assaulted the house of Jason in order to bring out St. Paul
and Silas. The people took Jason (St. Paul's host) and other
believers to the rulers, accusing Jason of harboring traitors to
Caesar.
Jason and the other brethren were given a bond on the agreement that
St. Paul would leave the area. St. Paul and Silas were sent away
immediately by night to Berea. The decree of Claudius that expelled
Jews from Rome was probably broadcast to the people along the Via
Egnatia at about the time of St. Paul's visit. The Politarchs of the
city were no doubt forced to act against St. Paul.
The preaching of the gospel in Thessalonica was very important and
facilitated the spreading of the faith to all of Macedonia (1
Thessalonians 1:8). From St. Paul's letters to the Thessalonians it
was evident that their faith was known throughout the region. They
were a group of believers St. Paul remembered with great love and
commendation in his letters. Aristachus and Secundus (of
Thessalonica) believers labored with St. Paul (Acts 20:4; 27:2).
After his departure, St. Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica. The
First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians were written in
Corinth after Timothy offered a good report concerning the welfare
of
the
church. St. Paul may have revisited Thessalonica and mentions his
intention to visit in his first letter to Corinthians (1 Corinthians
16:5). This church suffered persecution (1 Thessalonians 2:14).
Other important figures of the Thessalonians included Jason, Gaius,
Secundus, Aristarchus and perhaps Demas (Acts 19:29; 20:4).
PLACE
REFERENCE
Amphipolis
Acts 17:1
Apollonia
Acts 17:1
Athens
Acts 17:15-16, 22; 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:1
Berea
Acts 17:10, 13: 20:4
Cenchrea
Acts 18:18, Romans 16:1
Coos (Kos)
Acts 21:1
Corinth
Acts 18:1; 19:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1, 23; 2 Timothy
4:20
Cyprus
Acts 4:38; 11:19,20; 13:4; 15:39; 21:3,16; 27:4
Neapolis (Kavala) Acts 16:11
Patmos
Rev 1:9
Philippi Matthew 16:13; Mark 8:27; Acts 16:12, 22;
20:6; Philippians 1-4; 1 Thessalonians 2:2
Rhodes
Act 21:1
Thessalonica Acts
17:1. 11. 13; 27:2; Philippians 4:16: 1 and 2 Thessalonians; 2
Timothy 4:10