This city was in ancient times the metropolis of Macedonia. Here Paul preached the gospel, being called to it by a vision. (See Acts 16:9-10) And having first preached at Philippi, he afterwards visited Thessalonica, (Acts 17:1, etc.) It was to the church of the Thessalonians he sent those two blessed Epistles, which through grace are in all the churches. It is probable that the first of those Epistles was the earliest in point of date, of all the apostle's writings, being sent to the church about the year of our Lord God 51.