The Church at Thessalonica / 1 Thessalonians 1:1 / Acts 17

Setting the Stage

I invite you to have a seat. My name is Mike, and I am one of the three-headed monsters, three musketeers, or three stooges—whatever you want to call us, depending on the day—of our teaching team around here. I get the great privilege of leading us into a brand-new series through the book of 1 Thessalonians.

As you can see, you can guess in a single word what this entire book is about: it is about the idea of hope.

I’ve been here at The Well for about fourteen years now, coming on staff back in 2004. When I first arrived, there was a volunteer named Chris Hensley. He was working at an art company in town and doing all the artwork for the church. As a staff, we realized, “Man, at some point, we have got to hire this guy.” Years ago, we were finally able to bring him on. Chris is an incredible, godly guy and a gifted artist.

I want to brag on our creative and artistic team for just a moment. As a teaching team, we meet weekly to study the Word. That creative team sits with us and asks, “Tell us what the Word of God says. As you unfold the text, what is the imagery that emerges?” Literally, Chris will ask me, “What is the Greek word for hope? What is the imagery connected to it? What did Paul mean by it, so that I can develop visual art that matches the biblical text?” That is the heart of the team we have. Chris is a quiet guy, but that entire department is driven by the Word of God. As you look at the series artwork, you see the word HOPE anchored in the middle of a swirling storm. That is the exact picture of 1 Thessalonians: a group of believers anchored in hope while the storms of life are raging around them.

Over the next nine weeks, we are going to work methodically through this book. 1 Thessalonians is one of Paul’s earliest letters—perhaps only Galatians was written earlier.

How many of you grew up doing school plays or drama? Any of you? A couple of you? I was a jock; that was not my world at all. But it was my brother’s world. I grew up watching him sing. Today, my brother is a professional opera singer. We both make our living with our voice; he just swam in the much deeper end of the gene pool! Over the years, watching him perform in middle school productions all the way to professional stages, I learned something: you can tell a lot about the quality of an opera by the stage design. When the curtain pulls back and you see flimsy cardboard cutouts painted by a colorblind fifth-grader on a shoestring budget, you know what to expect. But a few weeks ago, I saw him perform in San Jose. When the curtains parted, I was blown away by the craftsmanship, the lighting, and the depth of the set. That background brought the actors to life.

Tonight, we have the monumental task of covering just one verse: 1 Thessalonians 1:1. True to my style, we are going to take the scenic route to get there. Before we raise the curtain on 1 Thessalonians, we need to build the stage. We need to understand the history, the culture, and the people behind this letter. To do that, we are not going to start in 1 Thessalonians; we are going to start in the book of Acts.

The Gospel on the Move: A Running Start

Think of the book of Acts as a thirty-year historical framework into which Paul’s letters fit. 1 Thessalonians was written during the events recorded in Acts 17 and 18.

At the start of Acts, Jesus provides the roadmap for the mission.

Acts 1:8 (NASB)

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’

Jesus tells the disciples that the Gospel will start in Jerusalem, spread to Judea and Samaria, and ultimately reach the ends of the earth. It is a geographic expansion, but also an ethnic one: this Jewish Gospel is going to go to the Gentiles.

Initially, the disciples stayed in Jerusalem. It wasn’t until Stephen was martyred that persecution scattered the believers outward.

Acts 7:59-60 (NASB)

They went on stoning Stephen as he called on [the Lord] and said, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!’ Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them!’ Having said this, he fell asleep.

Then, a dedicated Jewish rabbi named Saul, who was actively hunting and killing Christians, met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Acts 9:3-6 (NASB)

As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He [said], ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.’

Jesus commissioned Saul—who became Paul—to be His chosen instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles. In Acts 13, Paul embarked on his first missionary journey into Southern Turkey, preaching Christ to non-Jewish audiences. In Acts 15, the apostles gathered at the Jerusalem Council to address a vital question: Do Gentile converts need to adopt Jewish customs and the Mosaic law? The council affirmed that salvation is by grace through faith alone, without the requirement of circumcision or the Jewish law.

Following that decision, Paul teamed up with Silas—a respected leader from the Jerusalem church—to revisit the churches established on that first journey. In Acts 16, they added a young disciple named Timothy, whom Paul began to mentor for pastoral ministry.

As they traveled west through Asia Minor, the Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching in certain regions, funneling them to Troas on the coast. That night, Paul experienced a vision of a Macedonian man pleading, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Recognizing God’s direction, they crossed the Aegean Sea into Greece.

Their first stop was Philippi. Their countercultural message shook the city so profoundly that Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned before being released and traveling southwest.

Acts 16:22-24 (NASB)

The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order [them] to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The Birth of the Thessalonian Church

That brings us to Acts 17 and their arrival in Thessalonica.

Thessalonica was a major metropolis of over 200,000 people, nestled in the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea. Situated along major trade routes, it served as the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and was second only to Athens in cultural importance. Because of its political status, Rome allowed the city significant self-governance, provided its citizens maintained loyalty to the empire, paid taxes, and acknowledged Caesar. The religious landscape was thoroughly pagan, crowded with the Greco-Roman pantheon and imperial ruler cults.

When Paul arrived, he followed his consistent pattern.

Acts 17:1-3 (NASB)

Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and [saying], ‘This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.’

Paul went straight to the Jewish synagogue. For three consecutive Sabbaths, he reasoned from the Hebrew Scriptures, demonstrating that the promised Messiah was not merely a political conqueror, but the suffering servant who had to die and rise from the dead. He declared, “This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.”

The Gospel bore fruit immediately.

Acts 17:4 (NASB)

And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

A community formed quickly, consisting of Jewish believers, God-fearing Greeks, and influential women of the city. But opposition arose just as swiftly.

Acts 17:5 (NASB)

But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.

Unbelieving Jewish leaders recruited agitators from the marketplace, formed a mob, and stormed the home of a believer named Jason, where Paul and his team were staying.

Acts 17:6-7 (NASB)

When they did not find them, they [began] dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, ‘These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.’

Look at their accusation: “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also… saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

In the Roman Empire, subjects were required to participate in civic religion and offer incense at the imperial temples, declaring, “Caesar is Lord.” For a Christian, making that proclamation was idolatry. Declaring Jesus as the ultimate Lord and King was treated by Roman authorities as treason—a capital offense.

Unable to find Paul and Silas, the mob dragged Jason before the city magistrates.

Acts 17:9 (NASB)

And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.

Jason was forced to post a legal and financial bond—a pledge guaranteeing that Paul would leave the city and cause no further disruption. To protect Jason and the fledgling fellowship, the believers sent Paul and Silas away under the cover of darkness.

Acts 17:10 (NASB)

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Paul had spent only a few weeks with these brand-new converts before being forced out. He could not return without putting Jason and the church in legal jeopardy. Later, Paul reflected on this painful separation.

1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 (NASB)

But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while– in person, not in spirit– were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you– I, Paul, more than once– and [yet] Satan hindered us.

Paul recognized that behind the human legalities, spiritual forces were actively trying to hinder the Gospel.

Waiting for News in Corinth

Paul and Silas fled to Berea, about forty-five miles west, where they again preached in the synagogue.

Acts 17:11-12 (NASB)

Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily [to see] whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

Many Bereans believed, but when opponents in Thessalonica learned of it, they traveled the forty-five miles to Berea to stir up the crowds there as well. The believers escorted Paul south to Athens, while Silas and Timothy remained behind in Macedonia to strengthen the new disciples.

Eventually, Paul moved on to Corinth. While working as a tentmaker to support himself, his mind remained preoccupied with concern for the Thessalonians. How were these brand-new believers surviving intense persecution without their spiritual father?

1 Thessalonians 3:5 (NASB)

For this reason, when I could endure [it] no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

If you are a parent, you understand this anxiety. The first time you leave your child at summer camp or send them on a trip, your mind is constantly checking in on them. Paul felt that same parental ache for this young church.

Then, Silas and Timothy finally arrived in Corinth with a report.

Acts 18:5 (NASB)

But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul [began] devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

Timothy brought astonishing news: despite the pressure, the Thessalonian believers were standing firm, flourishing in faith and love.

1 Thessalonians 3:6 (NASB)

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,

Relieved and overjoyed, Paul picked up his pen in Corinth and wrote the letter of 1 Thessalonians to encourage them, answer their questions, and challenge them to continue growing.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 (NASB)

Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

Four Defining Marks of the Church and Its Pastor

With that backdrop in place, consider four defining realities that shape this letter—three concerning the Thessalonian church, and one concerning Paul’s pastoral heart.

1. They Were Brand-New Believers Experiencing Real Transformation

These believers were spiritual infants, having known Christ for only a matter of months. Yet Paul noted that their genuine conversion was unmistakably evident in their lives. They had completely abandoned their idols to serve the living God, and the news of their faith had spread throughout the entire region.

For many of us, our conversion occurred decades ago; for others, it happened recently. The question we must ask ourselves is: At what point did our confession of faith produce tangible transformation? In Thessalonica, the change was immediate and radical.

2. They Endured Severe Persecution and Suffering

The Thessalonian church was forged in opposition. They faced hostility from religious leaders and ostracism from their Greek neighbors. Following Christ cost them socially, economically, and physically.

In modern Western culture, we face very little severe persecution for our faith. When we come to Christ, our circumstances often improve. But for these believers, following Jesus immediately invited hardship. Their suffering was so intense that they began to wonder if they had missed the return of Christ, prompting Paul to clarify the timeline of the Lord’s return in the later chapters of his letter.

3. They Were Grounded in Profound, Biblical Hope

Biblical hope is fundamentally different from worldly optimism. Optimism is the wish that present circumstances will improve: “I hope the weather clears up,” or “I hope my financial situation changes.” Optimism is anchored in circumstances.

Biblical hope is anchored in a Person. It is the confident expectation of God’s faithfulness and the return of Jesus Christ, regardless of whether earthly circumstances improve.

Isaiah 8:17 (NASB)

And I will wait for the LORD who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him.

When life is comfortable and our needs are easily met, we rarely yearn for external deliverance. Comfort can make us indifferent to eternity. But the Thessalonians, stripped of earthly security, anchored their souls entirely in the hope of Christ’s return.

4. Paul Approached Them with a Gentle, Pastoral Heart

We often picture the Apostle Paul as an intense, uncompromising theologian—and he was certainly bold in the face of shipwrecks, beatings, and imprisonments. But when writing to Thessalonica, his deep pastoral tenderness shines through.

Notice that in 1 Thessalonians 1:1, Paul does not invoke his formal title, “Paul, an apostle.” He writes simply as a brother and a spiritual father.

1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (NASB)

But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing [mother] tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

Paul describes his ministry among them with maternal gentleness and paternal care, imparting not just the theological truths of the Gospel, but his very life.

That same pastoral heart is what we strive for here at The Well. Across our campuses, our pastoral staff, youth leaders, and children’s workers view themselves first as fellow sheep among sheep, called under Christ to steward and care for His flock with genuine love.

Looking Ahead

This is the stage upon which 1 Thessalonians is set: a young, vibrant church enduring fierce trials, anchored in genuine biblical hope, and nurtured by a pastor who loved them deeply.

Over the coming weeks, we will explore the practical instruction Paul gives this church on how to walk in holiness, love one another, and stand firm in hope until the Lord returns.

Let’s pray.

Father, thank You for the privilege of being known by You. Thank You for preserving this letter and showing us a picture of a church that remained faithful in the middle of darkness and difficulty. We thank You that the Gospel reached beyond its original borders to include us. As we study 1 Thessalonians together, enliven our hearts. Teach us what it means to endure hardship well, to proclaim Christ boldly, and to anchor our hope firmly in You rather than our circumstances. May You be honored in our lives. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.