What is Thessalonica in the Bible?
Macedonian city with a synagogue where Paul stayed and received support from the Philippians.
Thessalonica is a city in Macedonia that Paul visited and that appears several times in Acts and in Paul's letters. It was a major city of the Roman province of Macedonia, in northern Greece.
Thessalonica in the Bible
Acts records that Paul's party came to Thessalonica after passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, and that the city had a synagogue of the Jews (Acts 17:1). The Jews of Berea are described as more noble than those in Thessalonica because they received the word readily and searched the scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). When the Jews of Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching at Berea, they went there and stirred up the people (Acts 17:13).
Paul thanks the Philippians for sending help to him more than once while he was in Thessalonica (Philippians 4:16). The city was home to Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica who sailed with Paul (Acts 27:2), and it was where Demas went after forsaking Paul, having loved this present world (2 Timothy 4:10).
- Name meaning
- Thessalian victory
- Name origin
- Greek
- Role
- City in Macedonia
- First mention
- The Acts of the Apostles 20:4
- Appearances in the Bible
- 3 mentions
Questions about Thessalonica
What is Thessalonica in the Bible?
Thessalonica is a city in Macedonia that Paul visited and that appears several times in Acts and in Paul's letters. It was a major city of the Roman province of Macedonia, in northern Greece. Acts records that Paul's party came to Thessalonica after passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, and that the city had a synagogue of the Jews (Acts 17:1). The Jews of Berea are described as more noble than those in Thessalonica because they received the word readily and searched the scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). When the Jews of Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching at Berea, they went there and stirred up the people (Acts 17:13). Paul thanks the Philippians for sending help to him more than once while he was in Thessalonica (Philippians 4:16). The city was home to Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica who sailed with Paul (Acts 27:2), and it was where Demas went after forsaking Paul, having loved this present world (2 Timothy 4:10).
What does the name Thessalonica mean?
The name Thessalonica means “Thessalian victory”. Origin: Greek.
Where is Thessalonica first mentioned in the Bible?
Thessalonica is first mentioned in The Acts of the Apostles 20:4.
How many times is Thessalonica mentioned in the Bible?
Number of mentions in the Bible: 3.