Act 17:11, 1Th 1:6, 2Th 2:10 | JFB | STEP | 10-12. the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night-- for it would have been as useless as rash to attempt any further preaching at that time, and the conviction of this probably made his friends the more willing to pledge themselves against any present continuance of missionary effort. unto Berea-- fifty or sixty miles southwest of Thessalonica; a town even still of considerable population and importance.

‏ Acts 17:11

10-12. the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night--for it would have been as useless as rash to attempt any further preaching at that time, and the conviction of this probably made his friends the more willing to pledge themselves against any present continuance of missionary effort.

unto Berea--fifty or sixty miles southwest of Thessalonica; a town even still of considerable population and importance.

‏ 1 Thessalonians 1:6

6. And ye--answering to "For our Gospel," 1Th 1:5.

followers--Greek, "imitators." The Thessalonians in their turn became "ensamples" (1Th 1:7) for others to imitate.

of the Lord--who was the apostle of the Father, and taught the word, which He brought from heaven, under adversities [Bengel]. This was the point in which they imitated Him and His apostles, joyful witness for the word in much affliction: the second proof of their election of God (1Th 1:4); 1Th 1:5 is the first (see on 1Th 1:5).

received the word in much affliction--(1Th 2:14; 3:2-5; Ac 17:5-10).

joy of--that is, wrought by "the Holy Ghost." "The oil of gladness" wherewith the Son of God was "anointed above His fellows" (Psa 45:7), is the same oil with which He, by the Spirit, anoints His fellows too (Is 61:1, 3; Ro 14:17; 1Jo 2:20, 27).

‏ 2 Thessalonians 2:10

10. deceivableness--rather as Greek, "deceit of (to promote) unrighteousness" (2Th 2:12).

in--The oldest manuscripts and versions omit "in." Translate, "unto them that are perishing" (2Co 2:15, 16; 4:3): the victims of him whose very name describes his perishing nature, "the son of perdition"; in contrast to you whom (2Th 2:13) "God hath from the beginning chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."

because--literally, "in requital for"; in just retribution for their having no love for the truth which was within their reach (on account of its putting a check on their bad passions), and for their having "pleasure in unrighteousness" (2Th 2:12; Ro 1:18); they are lost because they loved not, but rejected, the truth which would have saved them.

received not--Greek, "welcomed not"; admitted it not cordially.

love of the truth--not merely love of truth, but love of THE truth (and of, Jesus who is the Truth, in opposition to Satan's "lie," 2Th 2:9, 11; Joh 8:42-44), can save (Ep 4:21). We are required not merely to assent to, but to love the truth (Psa 119:97). The Jews rejected Him who came in His divine Father's name; they will receive Antichrist coming in his own name (Joh 5:43). Their pleasant sin shall prove their terrible scourge.