What did people do when they became believers through Paul's ministry in Macedonia and Achaia?
When people in Macedonia and Achaia became believers through Paul’s ministry, they turned to God from idols—turning from idolatry to the living God. This turning was significant and costly, because they came out of a culture different from Christianity and faced pressure and intense persecution from idolatrous friends and relatives.
Les explains that the believers in northern and southern Greece—Macedonia and Achaia, with Thessalonica in northern Greece not too far from Philippi—demonstrated the manner of Paul’s entry among them. Every place Paul gained converts, this same pattern held true: they turned from idols to the living God. Les emphasizes that this took something, because whenever people are saved and become believers out of a culture totally different from Christianity, they come under pressure and intense persecution. These new converts did not have an easy role living among idolatrous friends and relatives, and Paul kept this uppermost in his mind as he wrote.
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;