“For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: but even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.”
Paul here reminded the Thessalonians of the day that he came among them to minister the gospel. He referred to how he and Timothy and Silvanus were treated as they ministered in Philippi. The story is told in Acts 16 and 17.
These men were sent by the Lord to Macedonia, a state of the country of Greece. Having arrived, they came to Philippi. As they went about preaching the gospel, they were followed by a young girl who mocked the gospel. The scripture tells us that through the working of satan she had a spirit of divination: she was enabled to predict events. We are told that through this she was able to bring great gain to her masters. As her mocking continued many days, Paul, being grieved, rebuked the spirit, commanding it out of her in the name of Jesus.
The spirit having left her, she no longer was able to predict events as she once was. So, her masters were angry with Paul and the others because their source of income was ruined. They grabbed the men, took them to the marketplace, and lied about them to the leaders of the city. They falsely accused Paul, Timothy, and Silvanus regarding why they were there and what they were teaching. The leaders with the help of a crowd beat the men, and commanded that they be put into prison. The jailor put them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Through this series of events, the gospel was preached to the jailor and his family, and they were all turned to the Lord! We are told that the jailor washed the wounds they received in the beating, and ministered to them with a meal. In Acts 17 we are told that Paul and his companions then left Philippi and went to Thessalonica.
Having come to Thessalonica, they met with similar treatment, and were hurried out of the city. From there they went to Berea. When the people of Thessalonica heard that he was there, they sent people to stir up that city against Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
Sometime later Paul wrote this letter to the people in Thessalonica. In the verses above he reminded them of these events. Paul had endured great affliction bringing the gospel to them. In 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 7 Paul wrote, “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.” Now, the people of Thessalonica endured affliction because of the gospel. Paul’s intent in reminding them of his own afflictions was to encourage them to continue in the gospel, even in their afflictions.
The wonderful example of Paul is worth considering. After the treatment he received, beating and prison, mocking and lies spoken about him, and all in the context of going where the Lord had sent him, Paul continued to preach to the Thessalonians. He was not silenced, he continued preaching the gospel. The abuses did not deter him. Above he said they were “…bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.”
These things occur to this day. All believers have and do endure afflictions to varying degrees for their testimony in the gospel. Some have endured imprisonment like Paul. Some have endured mocking or shunning. Some have endured death. Jesus said that if the world hates us, we should remember that it hated Him, too. In fact, in Luke 6:22, 23, Jesus told His disciples, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
Though “…no chastening for the present seems joyous, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:11). As we go in service for the Lord, even under His clear direction as Paul did, we endure what the world might bring against us. But we must not let these afflictions deter us from service, just like Paul. He was bold in God to speak the gospel. We must serve God no matter events, knowing and trusting that He will glorify Himself in us!
Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Brightly does His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain
Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain
Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain (Edgar P. Stites)