Acts 17:14
And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
Paul was hurriedly sent away from Berea toward Athens because unbelieving Jews from Thessalonica followed him there in jealousy and hatred and stirred up the excitable passions of the lower class, so the brethren feared violence to him if he remained. Newly believing Bereans accompanied him to Athens, wanting to learn more of the way of life from his teaching. Silas and Timothy remained in Berea to carry on the work so well begun there and to instruct and guide the new converts in the principles and mysteries of the holy faith. Timothy had already come to Berea before Paul left.
When Paul reached Athens he sent the Berean companions back with a message for Silas and Timothy to join him in that city immediately. The hasty retreat deprived Paul of the return visit to the Thessalonian believers that he had anticipated and wanted to make. The episode shows persecution driving the teachers of truth from one field of labor to another, from city to city; the opposers of the doctrine of Christ could not hinder its actual advancement, but they made the apostles' work exceedingly hard.
In providence God permitted Satan to hinder Paul's return to the Thessalonians, yet Paul pressed on through opposition, conflict, and persecution to carry out the purpose revealed to him in vision. In the sequel to this movement, Paul went on from Athens to Corinth while Silas and Timothy stayed behind for a time after he had sent word for them to follow him.