DARING TO TELL

We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. —1 Thessalonians 2:2

Paul and Silas had been summarily beaten and imprisoned in Philippi—that occasion on which they were singing at midnight when an earthquake shook them free and led to the conversion of the jailer and his family (see Acts 16:22–40).

After Paul and Silas were released from prison, they went back to Lydia’s house. “There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more.

Then they left town” (Acts 16:40, NLT). As they traveled west along the Aegean coastline, their next destination was Thessalonica. However, Paul and Silas were not able to stay there long. Their early evangelistic success was met with fierce opposition as Jewish critics worked with local troublemakers to start a riot (see Acts 17:1–5).

That night, the first few Thessalonian believers helped Paul and Silas escape from the city under the cover of darkness. This was a rather inauspicious beginning for the church in Thessalonica. Writing back to those believers, Paul seemed surprised at the daring they had shown: “Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition” (1 Thessalonians 2:2, NLT). The circumstances in which Paul and Silas were sharing the story of Jesus had the additional function of authenticating what they were sharing. If it was a scheme for popularity or wealth, it was not working out well.

If they were uncertain about the message, why would they be taking such risks? As Paul explained it: “For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you” (1 Thessalonians 2:3).

As we see throughout Paul’s letters, he was compelled by the story and reality of Jesus. That’s what gave him courage, and made his message so important and worth whatever risks might come.