Acts 17:14

Immediately. As from Thessalonica (v. 10), so from Beroea, the departure of the apostles was made in all haste. Once again local Christians, new in the faith, and at personal risk, arranged for their teachers’ safety.

As it were to the sea. Textual evidence favors the reading, “as far as the sea.” This sudden action was preparatory to taking ship for a destination that may not yet have been decided. Because there is no mention of stopping places between Beroea and Athens (as Amphipolis and Apollonia were listed between Philippi and Thessalonica in v. 1) it is presumed that Paul did travel by sea. Rounding the promontory of Sunium, he would enter Athens by way of the port of Piraeus (see on v. 16). He was accompanied thus far by some who had gone with him from Beroea (v. 15), but they returned and he was left alone. His desire for companionship and counsel is expressed in the message that he sent with the returning Bereans for Silas and Timothy to come to him “with all speed” (v. 15). From 1 Thess. 3:1-3 it would appear that Timothy came to Athens, probably after the incident on the Areopagus, and was sent back soon after, with words of counsel and comfort for those in Thessalonica whom he had reported as suffering much tribulation.

Silas and Timotheus. Timothy has not been mentioned by name since he was introduced into the narrative at Lystra (see on ch. 16:1), but it appears that since his circumcision (v. 3) he had constantly been with Paul. Now, with Silas, he is separated from the senior evangelist. The persecuting Jews were thirsting for Paul’s blood, and were not likely to molest the less prominent workers if they remained in Beroea. Thus Silas and Timothy would be free to strengthen the new believers in Beroea and Thessalonica.