Acts 17:1

"Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica" The use of the term "they" infers that Luke had remained in Philippi to work with that new congregation (Acts 16:10 "we"). Luke will once again join Paul in Acts 20:5. "Departing from Philippi, Paul and his party traveled by the Egnatian Way one hundred miles to Thessalonica, capital of the province of Macedonia. Apparently nightly stops (or stops) were made at Amphipolis (33 miles from Philippi), Apollonia (30 miles from Amphipolis) until they reached Thessalonica" (Kent p. 137). "Came to Thessalonica" This was the seaport for the second district of Macedonia, it served as the capital not only for this district but also for the whole Roman province of Macedonia, and it was the largest city in this province. "It was. harbor town, situated at the head of the Thermaic Gulf. Commanding trade by sea across the Aegean and by land along the east-west Via Egnatia, it was. flourishing commercial center, and was proud of having been made. free city in 42 B.C." (Stott p. 270).

Acts 17:1 "Where there was. synagogue of the Jews" The Greek construction here might imply that. synagogue existed here while synagogues did not exist in Amphipolis and Apollonia. Such. synagogue always gave Paul. place to begin preaching the gospel "among people who had been brought to. readiness for Christ by the 'tutor' (Galatians 3:24)" (Reese p. 611).