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ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, to the time when, having
completed His mediatorial work, Christ would come again in power
and great glory, and establish His kingdom on the earth. Paul was a
believer in the second coming of Christ; so clearly and forcibly did he
present the truths concerning this event, that upon the minds of many
who heard there was made an impression which never wore away.
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For three successive Sabbaths Paul preached to the Thessalonians,
reasoning with them from the Scriptures regarding the life, death,
resurrection, office work, and future glory of Christ, the “Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world.”
Revelation 13:8
. He exalted Christ,
the proper understanding of whose ministry is the key that unlocks the
Old Testament Scriptures, giving access to their rich treasures.
As the truths of the gospel were thus proclaimed in Thessalonica
with mighty power, the attention of large congregations was arrested.
“Some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the
devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.”
As in the places formerly entered, the apostles met with deter-
mined opposition. “The Jews which believed not” were “moved with
envy.” These Jews were not then in favor with the Roman power, be-
cause, not long before, they had raised an insurrection in Rome. They
were looked upon with suspicion, and their liberty was in a measure
restricted. They now saw an opportunity to take advantage of circum-
stances to re-establish themselves in favor and at the same time to
throw reproach upon the apostles and the converts to Christianity.
This they set about doing by uniting with “certain lewd fellows
of the baser sort,” by which means they succeeded in setting “all the
city on an uproar.” In the hope of finding the apostles, they “assaulted
the house of Jason;” but they could find neither Paul nor Silas. And
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“when they found them not,” the mob in their mad disappointment
“drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying,
These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of
Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.”
As Paul and Silas were not to be found, the magistrates put the
accused believers under bonds to keep the peace. Fearing further
violence, “the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night
unto Berea.”