Acts 17:1-6 (TPT)
17 After passing through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and Silas arrived at Thessalonica. 2 As they customarily did, they went to the synagogue to speak to the Jews from the Torah scrolls. For three weeks 3 Paul challenged them by explaining the truth and proving to them the reality of the gospel—that the Messiah had to suffer and die, then rise again from among the dead. He made it clear to them, saying, “I come to announce to you that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Messiah!”
4 Some of the Jews were convinced that their message was true, so they joined Paul and Silas, along with quite a few prominent women and a large number of Greeks who worshiped God. 5 But many of the Jews were motivated by bitter jealousy and formed a large mob out of the troublemakers, unsavory characters, and street gangs to incite a riot. They set out to attack Jason’s house, for he had welcomed the apostles into his home. The mob was after Paul and Silas and sought to take them by force and bring them out to the people. 6 When they couldn’t find them, they took Jason instead, along with some of the brothers in his house church, and dragged them before the city council. Along the way they screamed out, “Those troublemakers who have turned the world upside down have come here to our city.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-9 (TPT)
2 My dear brothers and sisters, it’s obvious that our ministry among you has proven to be fruitful. 2 And though we had already suffered greatly in Philippi, where we were shamefully mistreated, we were emboldened by faith in our God to fearlessly preach his wonderful gospel to you in spite of incredible opposition.
3 Our coming alongside you to encourage you was not out of some delusion, or impure motive, or an intention to mislead you, 4 but we have been approved by God to be those who preach the gospel. So our motivation to preach is not pleasing people but pleasing God, who thoroughly examines our hearts. 5 God is our witness that when we came to encourage you, we never once used cunning compliments as a pretext for greed, 6 nor did we crave the praises of men, whether you or others. 7 Even though we could have imposed upon you our demands as apostles of Christ, instead we showed you kindness and were gentle among you. We cared for you in the same way a nursing mother cares for her own children. 8 With a mother’s love and affectionate attachment to you, we were very happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our lives—because you had become so dear to us.
Emboldened by Faith
1 Thessalonians 2:2 (TPT)
2 And though we had already suffered greatly in Philippi, where we were shamefully mistreated, we were emboldened by faith in our God to fearlessly preach his wonderful gospel to you in spite of incredible opposition.
Gr. emboldened shows up 9 times in new testament.
7 in Acts, 1 in Ephesians, 1 in thessalonians. All under persecution.
Our motivation to preach is not pleasing people but pleasing God.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 (TPT)
4 but we have been approved by God to be those who preach the gospel. So our motivation to preach is not pleasing people but pleasing God, who thoroughly examines our hearts.
Galatians 1:10 (TPT)
10 I’m obviously not trying to flatter you or water down my message to be popular with men, but my supreme passion is to please God. For if all I attempt to do is please people, I would not be the true servant of the Messiah.
Isaiah 43:7 (NLT)
7 Bring all who claim me as their God,
for I have made them for my glory.
It was I who created them.’”
John 6:35 (ESV)
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
Psalm 107:9 (ESV)
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
1 Thessalonians 2:5-7 (TPT)
5 God is our witness that when we came to encourage you, we never once used cunning compliments as a pretext for greed, 6 nor did we crave the praises of men, whether you or others. 7 Even though we could have imposed upon you our demands as apostles of Christ, instead we showed you kindness and were gentle among you. We cared for you in the same way a nursing mother cares for her own children.
Love and affectionate attachment to you
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (TPT)
7 Even though we could have imposed upon you our demands as apostles of Christ, instead we showed you kindness and were gentle among you. We cared for you in the same way a nursing mother cares for her own children. 8 With a mother’s love and affectionate attachment to you, we were very happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our lives because you had become so dear to us.