Acts 17 tells us that Paul and Silas had a rough time in Thessalonica, their next stop after Philippi. Paul's attempts to persuade the worshippers at the synagogue certainly resulted in a number of new Christians, but also generated so much hostility that after a few months some of the Jews stirred up a riot, resulting in the arrest of some new believers and the need for Paul & Silas to make a quick departure to Berea, some 70 km away (where I am writing this). A few months later, Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians, expressing his joy that these Christians were still keeping their new-found faith in spite of the hardships they were enduring.
Persecution continued to be the experience of the Church on and off over the next 270 years. The picture shows the place (then a prison) where one Demetrios was killed, now under the church dedicated to him in Thessalonica. It is humbling to stand at the spot where one fellow-believer's martyrdom inspired others to hold on to Christ in the face of continuing persecution, which only ended with the next Emperor, Constantine. I hope that in some way my own witness will enable others to keep the faith whatever their own hardships. The key is to keep close to Jesus Christ, who will not fail us or forsake us.
Persecution continued to be the experience of the Church on and off over the next 270 years. The picture shows the place (then a prison) where one Demetrios was killed, now under the church dedicated to him in Thessalonica. It is humbling to stand at the spot where one fellow-believer's martyrdom inspired others to hold on to Christ in the face of continuing persecution, which only ended with the next Emperor, Constantine. I hope that in some way my own witness will enable others to keep the faith whatever their own hardships. The key is to keep close to Jesus Christ, who will not fail us or forsake us.
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