Thessalonica was the capital of one of the four Roman districts of Macedonia and was named after the wife of Cassander, who built the city.
Those in Thessalonica adored many gods, particularly Jupiter, as the father of Hercules, the alleged founder of its ancient royal family. The city also boasted a celebrated amphitheater, where gladiatorial shows were exhibited for the
amusement of the citizens, and a circus for public games.
On his second missionary journey, Paul (with Silas) preached in the synagogue here, the chief synagogue of the Jews in that part of Macedonia, and laid the foundations of a church ( Acts 17:1-4; 1Thes. 1:9). The violence of the Jews drove
him and Silas from the city to Berea ( Acts 17:5-10). The newly converted Christians at Thessalonica also suffered much from the persecution of the world.
It is interesting to note that the prevalence of Gentiles and the Gentile element in the church at Thessalonica was such that the two Epistles the apostle Paul wrote to the church have no quotations from the Old Testament.
Scriptural References: Acts 17 ; 1Thessalonians ; 2Thessalonians (KJV Bible)
Sources Used: John Darby's Synopsis; Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible; Easton's Bible Dictionary; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary
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