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The route taken by the Apostle from Philippi to Thessalonica was the one usually
followed. We have a document called the Antonine Itinerary, which gives the length of
this journey as one hundred miles; Philippi to Amphipolis 33 miles; from there to
Apollonia another 30 miles, and so to Thessalonica 37 miles. We have no record of
how long this journey took, and it is idle to speculate.
The next happening of spiritual importance occurs at Thessalonica, and we
accordingly find this city now brought into prominence. It was ideally situated as a
centre from which might be "sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia
and in Achaia, but also in every place" (I Thess. 1: 8). Its geographical position and
political importance made it a natural point of contact with the whole neighbourhood. On
modern maps the city is named Salonika.
Nothing is said in Acts 17: of the physical condition of Paul and Silas, but a passage
in I Thess. 2: speaks volumes:
"For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: but
even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated as ye know, at
Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much
contention" (I Thess. 2: 1, 2).
The Christian church began in the synagogue and was not separated from it until this
second missionary journey was over (Acts 19: 9). So we read in Acts 17: 2 that, "as
his manner was, Paul went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out
of the Scriptures". The basis of the Apostle's reasoning was, therefore, "the Scriptures",
and his method is defined as "opening and alleging", with the object that his hearers
might become convinced that the suffering and risen "Jesus" was truly "the Christ". We
had one glimpse of the Apostle's method in Acts 13:, and here we have another. We
shall profit by giving it our careful consideration.
The word dialegomia, "reasoning", indicates an argument, in which two or more
speakers take part, or in which one speaker argues out the pros and cons in the course of
his remarks. The passage before us says that Paul "reasoned with them out of the
Scriptures", and his method is further illuminated by the two words that follow:
"opening and alleging." The word translated "opening" is dianoigo, "to open
thoroughly", and is used literally for opening a door, and figuratively for opening the
understanding. In Acts 16: 14 dianoigo is used with reference to the opening of
Lydia's heart, and in Luke 24: 32 and 45 we have the example of Christ, Who
"opened" the Scriptures, and then "opened" their understanding. Paul was closely
following His Master's footsteps.
"Alleging" is paratithemi, "to place beside". Its first occurrence in the N.T. is
associated with parables, a mode of teaching in which one thing is placed beside another,
because of some resemblance, as for example:
"The field is the world" (Matt. 13: 38).
"Another parable put He forth" (Matt. 13: 24).