Before looking at the text itself, a little background of Paul and company’s visite to Thessalonika:
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas are in Philippi. At the very end of the chapter, the jailer in their prison becomes a believer. When the city officials declare that Paul and company should be released, Paul demands a personal escort as a Roman citizen. When they are escorted from prison, they go to Lydia’s house to encourage the brothers before leaving.
Keep in mind that they had been flogged. Their visit to Lydia’s house may have been a few days.
Before making their way to Thessalonika, Paul and company pass through Amphipolis and Apollonia. Amphipolis was the Roman capital of the province of Macedonia, a very rich city. Amphipolis also had a large gymnasium – much of what is known about Greek athletic training comes from the ruins of the site. Despite its size and importance, Paul and company pass through. By contrast, Apollonia was a small village will a seaport. Some commentators have remarked that this would have been a good place to get supplies. However, there is no record of Paul and company preaching here, they continue on to Thessalonika. Why? Because there was a Jewish synagogue there(Acts 17:1).
As was his custom, he preached in the synagogue there (Acts 17:2). Jews and God-fearers (converts to Judaism) became believers. He preached there for three weeks before controversy starts. Apparently Jason offers to host Paul and his company – it is assumed that they were believers. In other cities, Paul would preach in the synagogue and find shelter with believers there. (In Corinth, he stayed with fellow tent-makers Priscilla and Aquilla where the three of them did business for quite a while.) When it is discovered that Paul and company are not there, Jason and other brothers are brought before city officials. That night, Paul and company leave (Acts 17:10).
Keep in mind that Paul and Silas were there for three weeks plus a short stay at Jason’s house. They had just spent quite a bit of time in Philippi and they would soon spend 18 months in Corinth. Considering the brevity of their visit, it is understandable that Paul is worried about them (1 Thess 3:5). In fact, Paul went alone to Athens in order to send Silas and Timothy back to Thessalonika (Acts 17:15).
Speaking of Berea, the Jews of Thessalonika decided to follow Paul and company there. It was about a 45 mile trip from Thessalonika. This gave Paul, Silas, and the others time to think about what they wanted to do next, unlike their exits from previous cities. After deciding their course of action, they came to the highway (Via Egnatium) and went their separate ways.
Paul continues to Athens (Acts 17:16) and preaches in the marketplace while waiting for them. The message comes to the attention of Stoic and Epicurean philosophers who bring him to the Aeropagus to hear his discourse.
As an aside, Epicurean philosophy is based on presenting ‘plain facts’ in order to draw inferences about what is unknown. Plain facts are demonstrated in what can be perceived or sensed. In essence, you can only know about the unknown based on what you can see or hear, or touch, or smell, or sense in some way. Stoics, on the other hand, strove to be free from the passions (hate, fear, pain, appetite, etc) and follow where reason leads. The two would argue about the meaning of pain and other feelings – the Epicureans saying that pain helps us to understand the universe, the Stoics saying the removal of pain helps us understand the universe. Considering the two groups, what Paul preaches has the power to appeal to them intellectually. (At least until he mentioned resurrection from the dead.)
After Athens, Paul meets Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth. He stays there making tents and waiting for news from Thessalonika and the rest of Macedonia. With Priscilla, Aquila, and other exiles from Rome in the city, Paul doesn’t have to start from scratch in the city, there are already believers there when he arrives. He devotes his time to preaching in the synagogues every Sabbath, but takes the time to write letters. One of these, is the first letter to the Thessalonians.
Timothy and Silas have much good news to report. They also bring back some questions. Through the course of discussions with Timothy and Silas, they also talk about issues that need to be addressed. After some time and discussion, the three of them come together to pen a letter.