Leaving Philippi, Paul and Silas traveled west 160 kilometers to the capital city of Macedonia. Thessalonica was not only the administrative centre for the province; with Corinth, it was one of the two most important commercial trade centers in Greece. It was a harbor city and it had major trade routes passing through it. In the time of Paul, 200,000 people lived in Thessalonica.

For its loyalty to Rome in the campaign against Brutus and Cassius, it had gained the status of a free city. It was allowed to conduct its own affairs with little interference from Rome. Such freedom was a greatly coveted commodity.

To this city came the gospel preachers. There was a synagogue in Thessalonica. Three Sabbaths in a row, Paul went to synagogue and argued with the Jews, explaining and proving from the scriptures that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and rise from the dead. Then he told them that the Jesus he proclaimed was the Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament.

Paul persuaded some. They joined Paul and Silas. So did many of the believing Greeks and some wealthy women. The Jews became jealous of Paul's and Silas' success. They enlisted the local rabble rousers and got a riot going. They attacked the house of a man called Jason. That's where Paul and Silas were staying. They could not find the men they were looking for. Instead, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city authorities. They charged Jason with having sheltered the men who had turned the world upside down and who had said that there was another king above Caesar – a king called Jesus.

These charges were correct. The gospel turns the world upside down. Just when man thinks he's got the whole world in his hands, the gospel turns the world upside down. They proclaimed Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords. The citizens and the authorities of Thessalonica were disturbed when they heard this. If news of this got back to Rome, the city would be in trouble. Caesar would not be happy. They would run the risk of losing their status of a free city. The authorities made Jason post a bond and then let him go. They held Jason responsible for making sure that Paul and Silas cleared out. Because of the danger to life and limb, Paul and Silas fled. They had only spent three Sabbaths in Thessalonica. Only three weeks – not much time for the gospel to take hold!

Soon after his flight from Thessalonica, Paul wrote them a letter (1 Thessalonians). He wrote about how he had been torn away from them. He was concerned about them. He had wanted to go back to them again and again, but Satan had stopped him (1 Thessalonians 2:18). Satan had prevented Paul from being able to return to Thessalonica to encourage the believers among whom Paul had labored for only three weeks. He was scared that, perhaps, somehow the tempter had tempted them and that his work in their midst had been in vain (1 Thessalonians 3:5).

Paul had sent Timothy to check things out. Timothy had brought back a good report. The Thessalonians were remaining firm in the faith! God was preserving them! They were standing fast in the Lord!

Satan tried to destroy the work Paul had done, but he failed. Satan thought that the people, among whom Paul had worked, for only three weeks, were easy pickings. Somehow, Satan had been able to prevent Paul's return to build up the church. And the tempter worked hard to lead the young church astray, but he failed. He failed because the Lord, who had ransomed the Thessalonians body and soul with His precious blood, had freed them from all the power of the devil and had made them His own possession.

Today the tempter still tries as hard as ever. He tries to make you fall away from the Lord. Hold on to your Lord. Hold on to the One who owns you body and soul, who has bought you not with silver or gold, but with His precious blood. Hold on to the One who will never let you go.

Satan tried but he failed. The tempter continues to try, but he will continue to fail. For the Son of God has come and has destroyed the works of Satan. Hold on to the gospel. Hold on to the Lord. The tempter will fail.