We see the beginnings of the church of the Thessalonians in Acts 17. Many Jews, Greeks, and leading women believe.

The one hosting Paul and his companions is dragged before the authorities when they can’t find Paul. He pays a fine, just one cost of following Christ.

The church sends Paul and Silas away and they end up in Berea. The Bereans eagerly received the word and searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul was teaching were true. There are churches named “Berean” because of their good example.

Again, we are told about women of high standing joining them.

The team is broken up and Silas and Timothy remain to teach while Paul is sent on since Paul is the one the Jews were after in their persecution.

Paul wants the others to join him as soon as possible. Paul is not a loner. He is always wanting the fellowship and partnership of other believers.

We get more ways of guidance in this chapter. The brothers sent him on. He left. In Athens, his spirit is troubled by all the idols. That uneasy feeling is from the Lord. Paul teaches whomever happened to be at the marketplace. He seems to accept the fact that whoever is there is the audience he’s supposed to teach.

In a classic example of preaching to your audience, Paul uses an altar he sees to introduce God to them. He quotes one of their poets.

Paul preaches that God had overlooked their ignorance but that now He was commanding they repent because they would face judgment.