Monday, December 7, 2009

Thessaloniki




Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Synagogue of Jews.




Thessaloniki was a bustling seaport city at the head of the Thermaic Gulf. It was an important communication and trade center, located at the junction of the great Egnatian Way and the road leading north to the Danube.




The background of the Thessalonia church is found in Acts 17:1-9. Since Paul began his ministry there in the Jewish synagogue, it is reasonable to assume that the new church included some Jews. However, I Thess. 1:9-10 and Acts 17:4 seem to indicate that the church was largely Gentile in membership.

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