Opposition at Thessalonica
57
them the leading women of the city, and multitudes of Gentiles—they
were filled with envy and jealousy. These Jews were not then in favor
with the Roman power, because they had raised an insurrection in the
metropolis not long previous to this time. They were regarded with
suspicion, and their liberty was, in a measure, restricted. They now
saw an opportunity to take advantage of circumstances 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 representing that the leaders in the
new doctrine were raising a tumult among the people. They accord-
ingly excited the passions of the worthless mob by cunningly devised
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falsehoods, and incited them to make an uproarious assault upon the
house of Jason, the temporary home of the apostles. This they did
with a fury more like that of wild beasts than of men. They had been
instructed by the Jews to bring out Paul and Silas, and drag them to
the authorities, accusing them of creating all this uproar, and of raising
an insurrection.
When they had broken into the house, however, they found that the
apostles were not there. Friends who had apprehended what was about
to occur, had hastened them out of the city, and they had departed
for Berea. In their mad disappointment at not finding Paul and Silas,
the mob seized Jason and his brother, and dragged them before the
authorities with the complaint: “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.”
The Jews interpreted the words of Paul to mean that Christ would
come the second time in that generation, and reign upon the earth as
king over all nations. The charge was brought against the apostles with
so much determination that the magistrates credited it, and put Jason
under bonds to keep the peace, as Paul and Silas were not to be found.
The persecuting Jews flattered themselves that by their course toward
the Christians they had regained the confidence of the magistrates, and
had established their reputation as loyal citizens, while they had, at the
same time, gratified their malice toward the apostles, and transferred to
the converts to Christianity the suspicion which had heretofore rested
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upon themselves.