1 Thessalonians 2:15

Killed the Lord Jesus. The church of the Thessalonians was a Gentile church, but many of its members had been Jewish proselytes (see on Acts 17:4). These members had been used to looking for religious instruction to the Jewish leaders in their city. They might have thought that something was wrong with Paul’s teaching, since it had called down the wrath of religious leaders upon him and his followers. But Paul shows that their animosity might have been well expected, for they “killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets” (1 Thess. 2:15; RSV; cf. Matt. 23:31; Acts 7:52). The apostle makes the Jews responsible for Christ’s death (cf. on Acts 2:23).

Persecuted us. This phrase may have both a general and a local application. The Jews had pursued Paul from the time of his conversion (see on Acts 9:23), and continued their evil designs against him and his companions (see on Acts 13:45). In particular, the same Jews who caused trouble in Thessalonica, pursued Paul, Silas, and Timothy to Berea (see on Acts 17:13).

Please not God. The form of the verb in Greek shows that the Jews habitually displeased God. They had a zeal for God and thought that their cruel bigotry was pleasing to Him (John 16:2), but their enmity against the Christians was inspired by envy. It was envy that touched off the persecution at Thessalonica, as elsewhere (Acts 17:5; 13:45). Such conduct could not do other than incur God’s strong displeasure.

Contrary. The Jews were contrary, or in opposition, to all races of men. If their zeal had been founded on love to God, they would also have loved their fellow creatures. Instead, they manifested a narrow-minded exclusiveness. This attitude caused many of the pagan writers to describe the Jews as feeling “only hate and enmity” toward other nations (Tacitus Histories, v. 5). Paul sees this hatred taking the terrible form of trying to withhold the gospel from those who desired it (see v. 16).