Chapter VIII. - Opposition at Thessalonica.
After leaving Philippi, Paul and Silas made their way to
Thessalonica. They were there privileged to address a large concourse of people
in the synagogue, with good effect. Their appearance bore evidence of their
recent shameful treatment, and necessitated an explanation of
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what they had endured. This they made without exalting
themselves, but magnified the grace of God, which had wrought their deliverance.
The apostles, however, felt that they had no time to dwell upon their own
afflictions. They were burdened with the message of Christ, and deeply in
earnest in his work. {LP 81.3}
Paul made the prophecies in the Old Testament relating to the
Messiah, and the agreement of those prophecies with the life and teachings of
Christ, clear in the minds of all among his hearers who would accept evidence
upon the subject. Christ in his ministry had opened the minds of his disciples
to the Old-Testament scriptures; "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he
expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Peter,
in preaching Christ, produced his evidence from the Old-Testament scriptures,
beginning with Moses and the prophets. Stephen pursued the same course, and Paul
followed these examples, giving inspired proof in regard to the mission,
suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. He clearly proved his
identity with the Messiah, through the testimony of Moses and the prophets; and
showed that it was the voice of Christ which spoke through the prophets and
patriarchs from the days of Adam to that time. {LP 82.1}
He showed how impossible it was for them to explain the
passover without Christ as revealed in the Old Testament; and how the brazen
serpent lifted up in the wilderness symbolized Jesus Christ, who was lifted up
upon the cross. He taught them that all their religious services and ceremonies
would have been valueless if they should now reject the Saviour, who was
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revealed to them, and who was represented in those
ceremonies. He showed them that Christ was the key which unlocked the Old
Testament, and gave access to its rich treasures. {LP 82.2}
Thus Paul preached to the Thessalonians three successive
Sabbaths, reasoning with them from the Scriptures, upon the life, death, and
resurrection of Christ. He showed them that the expectation of the Jews with
regard to the Messiah was not according to prophecy, which had foretold a
Saviour to come in humility and poverty, to be rejected, despised, and slain.
{LP 83.1}
He declared that Christ would come a second time in power and
great glory, and establish his kingdom upon the earth, subduing all authority,
and ruling over all nations. Paul was an Adventist; he presented the important
event of the second coming of Christ with such power and reasoning that a deep
impression, which never wore away, was made upon the minds of the Thessalonians.
{LP 83.2}
They had strong faith in the second coming of Christ, and
greatly feared that they might not live to witness the event. Paul, however, did
not give them the impression that Christ would come in their day. He referred
them to coming events which must transpire before that time should arrive.
Writing to them afterwards, he warned them that they should "be not soon shaken
in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from
us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means;
for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that
man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." {LP 83.3}
Paul foresaw that there was danger of his
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words being misinterpreted, and that some would claim that
he, by special revelation, warned the people of the immediate coming of Christ.
This he knew would cause confusion of faith; for disappointment usually brings
unbelief. He therefore cautioned the brethren to receive no such message as
coming from him. {LP 83.4}
In his Epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul reminds them of his
manner of labouring among them. 1 Thess. 2:1-4. He declares that he did not seek
to win souls through flattery, deception, or guile. "But as we were allowed of
God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men,
but God, which trieth our hearts." Paul rebuked and warned his converts with the
faithfulness of a father to his children, while, at the same time, he cherished
them as tenderly as a fond mother would her child. {LP 84.1}
When the Jews saw that the apostles were successful in
obtaining large congregations; that many were accepting their doctrines--among
them the leading women of the city, and multitudes of Gentiles--they were filled
with envy and jealousy. These Jews were not then in favour with the Roman power,
because they had raised an insurrection in the metropolis not long previous to
this time. They were regarded with suspicion, and their liberty was, in a
measure, restricted. They now saw an opportunity to take advantage of
circumstances to re-establish themselves in favour, and, at the same time, to
throw reproach upon the apostles and the converts to Christianity. {LP 84.2}
This they set about doing by representing that the leaders in
the new doctrine were raising a tumult among the people. They accordingly
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excited the passions of the worthless mob by cunningly
devised falsehoods, and incited them to make an uproarious assault upon the
house of Jason, the temporary home of the apostles. This they did with a fury
more like that of wild beasts than of men. They had been instructed by the Jews
to bring out Paul and Silas, and drag them to the authorities, accusing them of
creating all this uproar, and of raising an insurrection. {LP 84.3}
When they had broken into the house, however, they found that
the apostles were not there. Friends who had apprehended what was about to
occur, had hastened them out of the city, and they had departed for Berea. In
their mad disappointment at not finding Paul and Silas, the mob seized Jason and
his brother, and dragged them before the authorities with the complaint: "These
that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; whom Jason hath
received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there
is another king, one Jesus." {LP 85.1}
The Jews interpreted the words of Paul to mean that Christ
would come the second time in that generation, and reign upon the earth as king
over all nations. The charge was brought against the apostles with so much
determination that the magistrates credited it, and put Jason under bonds to
keep the peace, as Paul and Silas were not to be found. The persecuting Jews
flattered themselves that by their course toward the Christians they had
regained the confidence of the magistrates, and had established their reputation
as loyal citizens, while they had, at the same time, gratified their malice
toward the apostles, and transferred to the converts to
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Christianity the suspicion which had heretofore rested upon
themselves. {LP 85.2}
In his first Epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul says, "For
our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy
Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you
for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received
the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost; so that ye were
ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia." {LP 86.1}
Those who preach unpopular truth in our day meet with
determined resistance, as did the apostles. They need expect no more favourable
reception from a large majority of professed Christians than did Paul from his
Jewish brethren. There will be a union of opposing elements against them; for
however diverse from each other different organizations may be in their
sentiments and religious faith, their forces are united in trampling under foot
the fourth commandment in the law of God. {LP 86.2}
Those who will not themselves accept the truth are most
zealous that others shall not receive it; and those are not wanting who
perseveringly manufacture falsehoods, and stir up the base passions of the
people to make the truth of God of none effect. But the messengers of Christ
must arm themselves with watchfulness and prayer, and move forward with faith,
firmness, and courage, and, in the name of Jesus, keep at their work, as did the
apostles. They must sound the note of warning to the world, teaching the
transgressors of the law what sin is, and pointing them to Jesus Christ as its
great and only remedy. {LP 86.3}