The Holy Spirit had clearly called Paul and his team to cross over from, what is now, Turkey to Greece (Acts 16:9-10).  Despite significant difficulties, Paul planted a church in Philippi and now set out for the next strategic city.  His team travelled west, and then south, on the military road, the Via Ignatia, to Thessalonica - the capital of Macedonia.  It was about 100 miles, with the lesser towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia at 30 miles and 60 miles respectively on the route to provide rest and refreshment.

Paul's ministry in Macedonia was fruitful but also painful (Acts 16:22-24).  When he preached about Jesus, some were stirred to repentance and faith; others to jealousy and anger.  In Philippi and Thessalonica, people believed in Jesus and churches were planted.  But in both cities, jealous religious people, who were frightened of losing what they had (money or religious power), stirred up a riot in an attempt to force the authorities into silencing the gospel by punishing Paul and his team.  Although the messengers had to move on, the gospel message continued to build up the believers and

Paul had probably not intended to start his evangelistic mission in Athens without Silas and Timothy (Acts 17:15).  But he got drawn into a discussion about Jesus with the local and visiting philosophers (Acts 17:18).  His exposition of the death and resurrection of Jesus was novel to them; an intriguing idea for them to debate.  So they invited, or forced, Paul to address the court of the Areopagus.

As Paul addressed the top religious philosophers in Athens, he started by declaring God to be the only living, unique, all-powerful Creator.  That idea was a serious contrast to the many invented idols who were worshipped in their temples.  ‘There is only one God’, Paul said, ‘and you do not know Him, so I am going to tell you who He is’ (Acts 17:23).  That exposition of 'only one God' culminated in a call to repentance before their inevitable meeting with Jesus as their judge (Acts 17:30-31).