Acts 17:13-15 13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off to go until the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15And those escorting Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
Somehow, word got back to the trouble-making Jews in Thessalonica about how Paul was convincing many of the Jews to accept his message. This news would have taken some time, weeks or months, to get back there, so the successful mission in Berea continued. Luke condenses a lot of activity into only a few verses. Trouble seemed to follow Paul and his companions wherever they went. Most of the trouble thus far was similar to the challenges the apostles and disciples had in Jerusalem. Unbelieving Jews would not accept their Messiah. Many of Paul’s letters dealt with legalistic Jews who followed him in his church planting efforts. Some of the Jews appeared to be believers in some form of the gospel, but Paul interpreted their message as incorrect and a threat (Galatians 1:9).
The Jews from Thessalonica used their same method to stir up the crowds against Paul, Silas, and Timothy. If it worked once, it surely would work again. They could have used “bad men” (verse 5) to get the crowds riled up. Paul had learned that it might be better to get away than to cause problems for the new believers or his hosts. The identity of the brothers in verse 14 is not clear, but it is likely that they included the new believers in Berea. Paul seemed to be the focus of the trouble, so he left right away with a delegation. Silas and Timothy stayed behind for a while, possibly to gather the believers together and continue to disciple them in the truth of the gospel. Paul and his companions went all the way to Athens. From there, Silas and Timothy joined him. Later, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to help the church there grow (1 Thessalonians 3:1). Paul had a lot of confidence in Timothy, who had been with him a relatively short time, but evidently was a good learner and sincere young man with great potential.