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ACTS CHAP. XVII.
PAUL and Silvanus, and Timothy come to Thessalonica, where they make many converts, but withal find very much opposition. In three weeks space, or very little more, they convert some Jews, many Proselytes, and not a few of the chief Gentiles: women of the City: which number, considered with the shortness of the time in which so many were brought in, and the bitterness they indured from the un∣believing, made their piety to be exceedingly renowned all abroad, 1 Thess. 1. 6, 7, 8.
Persecution driveth the Apostles to Beraea another Town of Macedonia, Plin. l. 4. c. 10. there they found persons better bred and better learned then that rabble mentioned ver. 5. that they had met withal at Thessalonica. The Jews called their learned men 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 filii nobilium: it may be Lukes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ver. 11. translates that: The rabble from Thessalonica brings the persecution hither also, so that Paul is glad to depart to Athens, but Silas and Timothy abide at Berea still.
At Athens there was a Synagogue of Jews and Proselytes, ver. 17. so that it is un∣doubted the Scholars of the University had heard from them the report of the true God; therefore Paul is not so much cried out upon, for telling them of the true God in oppo∣sition to the false, as for preaching of Jesus crucified, risen and glorified, which neither they nor even the Jews Synagogue there, had ever heard of before: for this he is con∣vented before their great Court of Areopagus, where his discourse converts one that Bench, Dionysius.