Acts 17:13
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
The Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was being preached by Paul at Berea and followed him there, not content to have driven the apostles from Thessalonica. They pursued him from jealousy and hatred of the apostles. At Berea they stirred up the people in opposition against Paul and the other teachers of the truth. They appealed to the excitable passions of the lower class to do violence to the apostles.
Their hostility forced the brethren to send Paul away to protect him from violence, driving the teachers of the truth again from their field of labor with persecution following them from city to city. Paul left Berea for Athens, accompanied by new believers who wanted to learn more about the way of life. The hasty retreat from Berea deprived Paul of the opportunity he had anticipated to visit the brethren at Thessalonica again.
God in providence permitted Satan to hinder Paul's return to the Thessalonians. The opposers made the work of the apostles exceedingly hard, but they could not hinder the actual advancement of the message. Paul pressed on through opposition, conflict, and persecution to carry out the purpose of God revealed to him in vision.