Leaving Macedonia Paul and Silas made their way west through Amphipolis and Apollonia to the wealthy metropolis of Thessalonica in Greek. The city was an urban melting pot boasting citizens from all across the Roman empire. Thessalonica was also close to Mt. Olympus, the sacred Greek mountain said to be the playground of the Greek pantheon of gods. When Paul chose to come to Thessalonica he understood that he had his work cut out for him. It was not an easy city to reach.

As was his custom Paul found a Jewish synagogue and began his work there. Acts 17:2 says “and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus whom I preach unto you is Christ” 

As a result of his preaching a great multitude’ of Greeks, along with some Jews accepted the message of the gospel. Over the course of three powerful and persuasive sermons, Paul managed to raise up a Christian church in the midst of one of the most pagan and secular metropolises in Greece. 

That feat alone is evidence that the Holy Spirit was working through Paul. Persuading people to accept something new is never easy. Persuading them to accept something that creates deep cognitive dissonance is almost impossible but as Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 “with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” 

Sometimes God calls us to serve him in ways that seem impossible. We might be called to break ground in communities that are largely ignorant of Jesus or to simply stand for our faith in an environment that is hostile to Christian values. Whatever the case, we need to remember the example of Paul and Silas. Regardless of how daunting the territory before them, they went where God called them which in turn enabled God to do great things through them.