John Calvin Commentary Acts 17:1

"Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:" — Acts 17:1 (ASV)

They came to Thessalonica. We do not know why Paul attempted nothing at Amphipolis and Apollonia, which were, nevertheless, famous cities, as appears from Pliny; only because he followed the Spirit of God as his guide, and took opportunity from the present situation. As opportunity arose, he also tried to do some good there, but because he had no success, Luke passes over it. And while he had been beaten at Philippi and had scarcely escaped from great danger, he preached Christ at Thessalonica. It appears from this how courageous he was to stay the course of his calling, and how bold he was, time and again, to enter into new dangers.

This invincible fortitude of mind, and such patient endurance of the cross, sufficiently declare that Paul did not labor in the manner of men, but that he was equipped with the heavenly power of the Spirit. And this also showed wonderful patience in him, in that, when he went to the Jews, whose unbridled willfulness he had so often experienced, he proceeded to seek their salvation.

But because he knew that Christ was given to the Jews for salvation, and that he himself was made an apostle on the condition that he should preach repentance and faith, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, committing the success of his labor to the Lord, he obeyed His commandment (though he had no great hope of doing good).

He previously seemed to have taken his final farewell of the Jews when he said, It was behoveful that the kingdom of God should be first preached to you; but because ye receive it not, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. But that harsher pronouncement must be understood as applying only to that group who had wickedly rejected the gospel when it was offered to them and made themselves unworthy of the grace of God. And toward the nation itself, Paul did not cease to carry out his mission as an ambassador. By this example, we are taught that we ought to hold the calling of God in such high regard that no unthankfulness from men can hinder us, but that we continue to be concerned for their salvation as long as the Lord appoints us to be their ministers. And it is likely that even then there were some who on the first Sabbath refused sound doctrine, but their willfulness did not prevent him from coming again on other Sabbaths.