...they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. Acts 17:1b
City: "Present-day Salonika. Capital of Macedonia and largestmost prosperous city in Mace.
40 miles from Apollonia. Strategically located on the Thermaic Gulf...straddled the Via Egnatia"
(Dollar:42) "...probably founded by Cassander in 315 B.C. and named for his wife, the daughter of
Philip II...population of perhaps 200,000." (Longenecker:468)
Summary: Paul went into the synagogue, as was his custom, and began reasoning with the Jews
from the scriptures. He tried to explain to them how important it was that
Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. Some Jews, many God-fearing Greeks,
and not a few prominent women came to believe. Many of the Jews did not believe
and formed a mob, which rushed to Jason's house, where Paul and Silas were
staying. When they could not be found there, Jason and some of the brothers were
brought before the city officials. They accused them of housing troublemakers
and of defying Caesar's decrees, since they were claiming that Jesus was their
king and not Caesar. Jason and the others were made to post bond and were set
free.