Chapter 8—Opposition at Thessalonica
After leaving Philippi, Paul and Silas made their way to Thessa-
lonica. They were there privileged to address a large concourse of
people in the synagogue, with good effect. Their appearance bore
evidence of their recent shameful treatment, and necessitated an ex-
planation of what they had endured. This they made without exalting
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themselves, but magnified the grace of God, which had wrought their
deliverance. The apostles, however, felt that they had no time to dwell
upon their own afflictions. They were burdened with the message of
Christ, and deeply in earnest in his work.
Paul made the prophecies in the Old Testament relating to the Mes-
siah, and the agreement of those prophecies with the life and teachings
of Christ, clear in the minds of all among his hearers who would accept
evidence upon the subject. Christ in his ministry had opened the minds
of his disciples to the Old-Testament scriptures; “beginning at Moses
and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the
things concerning himself.” Peter, in preaching Christ, produced his
evidence from the Old-Testament scriptures, beginning with Moses
and the prophets. Stephen pursued the same course, and Paul followed
these examples, giving inspired proof in regard to the mission, suffer-
ing, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. He clearly proved
his identity with the Messiah, through the testimony of Moses and
the prophets; and showed that it was the voice of Christ which spoke
through the prophets and patriarchs from the days of Adam to that
time.
He showed how impossible it was for them to explain the passover
without Christ as revealed in the Old Testament; and how the brazen
serpent lifted up in the wilderness symbolized Jesus Christ, who was
lifted up upon the cross. He taught them that all their religious services
and ceremonies would have been valueless if they should now reject
the Saviour, who was revealed to them, and who was represented in
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those ceremonies. He showed them that Christ was the key which
unlocked the Old Testament, and gave access to its rich treasures.
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