Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 18:5

"But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ." — Acts 18:5 (ASV)

The coming of Silas and Timothy to Corinth altered the situation for Paul. They brought good news about the Christians at Thessalonica (cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:6) and a gift of money from the congregation at Philippi (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:9). The news from Thessalonica was better than Paul dared expect, and it greatly comforted and encouraged him (cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:7–10)—though it also told of a slanderous campaign started against him outside the congregation (1 Thessalonians 2:3–6) and of some perplexity within it concerning the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:5–13:11). The money from Philippi was especially welcome at this time, for Paul was now able to devote himself “exclusively to preaching.” His purpose was to proclaim the Good News to the Jews of the synagogue that Jesus is “the Christ.” In response to the report from Thessalonica, Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians, in which are interwoven (1) commendation for growth, zeal, and fidelity; (2) encouragement in the face of local persecution; (3) defense of his motives against hostile attack; (4) instruction regarding holiness of life; (5) instruction about the coming of the Lord; and (6) exhortation to steadfastness and patience. Some weeks later, on learning of continued confusion at Thessalonica regarding the return of Christ and the believer’s relation to it, he wrote 2 Thessalonians. In that second letter, while acknowledging that the church lives in eager expectation of the Lord’s return, Paul insists that imminency must not be construed to mean immediacy but is rather the basis for dogged persistence in doing right.