In Acts 17 we see that Paul and Silas were three Sabbath days reasoning with the Jews at Thessalonica, and some were converted, and consorted with them; also many of the Greeks, and not a few of the chief women. Then persecution drove the apostles away.
Verses 1-4. They left behind them a new company who are spoken of and written to, called the Assembly at Thessalonica, which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. In this way they are spoken of as the children of God the Father, belonging by redemption to the Lord Jesus Christ, a redeemed company.
The solution is, “Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” What comfort to their souls such a message from heaven should be. Then it continues,
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God our Father; knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election.”
What a change this indicates in them, from what they had been before. Now they were begotten of God, their enmity was gone, and they were reconciled to God through the death of His Son. Their work of faith that acted on the Word of God, their labor of love that pursued its path through difficulties and trials, their patience of hope that waited for the Lord to come, were abundant evidence that they now were the Lord’s, and children of the Father, of His chosen ones (John 15:66If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:6)).
Verses 5-7. “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.”
They had observed the behavior of the apostles, and became followers of them and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
It cost them suffering and shame, but it proved the reality of their conversion, and brought to them corresponding joy of the Holy Ghost that they were suffering for Christ, and thus they were ensamples to all that were already believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
Verses 8-10. It is remarkable that their devoted, godly walk is here spoken of as “sounding out the Word of the Lord” in these places, and not only there, but in every place their faith toward God was spread abroad, so that the apostles did not need to tell it of them.
What lovely consistency with the truth they had believed, is seen in them, and had been spoken of, how readily they received God’s messengers, and turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven.
This indeed is the true and only way, for we have no strength to turn from idols before we turn to God. Turning in reality to Him makes our deliverance sure from the power of sin. He is our strength and our salvation.
We, also, like them, wait for the Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, who also will deliver us from the coming wrath which will fall upon the world yet, but it will be after His assembly is taken home to be with Himself (Rev. 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)).