John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia , etc.] Not from Berea in Macedonia, for from hence they came to the apostle while at Athens, and from whence he sent them, at least Timothy, to Thessalonica, to know the state of the saints there, as appears from ( <520301> Thessalonians 3:1,2) and from hence they now came to the apostle at Corinth: when Paul was pressed in Spirit ; either by the Holy Spirit, by which he was moved and stirred up to preach the Gospel more frequently, and more powerfully; for he had not always the same measure of the Spirit, or was not always under the same influence; or else in his own spirit, and so the Arabic version renders it, grief beset the spirit of Paul; his soul was filled with trouble and sorrow, when he observed the nonrepenitence and unbelief, the contradiction and blasphemy of the greater part of the Jews; and being filled with zeal for their welfare, he continued preaching Christ unto them. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, instead of in spirit, read in speech, or in word; and the sense is, not that he was straitened in his speech, and knew not what to say to the Jews, or had not freedom of speech with them; but he was instant in preaching to them, and preached the word more frequently and fervently, upon the coming of Silas and Timothy to his assistance: and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ ; he continued to produce more testimonies out of the writings of Moses, and the prophets, to prove that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, or Messiah, prophesied of in those writings, and promised to the Jews, and whom they expected.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Though Paul was entitled to support from the churches he planted, an from the people to whom he preached, yet he worked at his calling. A honest trade, by which a man may get his bread, is not to be looke upon with contempt by any. It was the custom of the Jews to bring u their children to some trade, though they gave them learning of estates. Paul was careful to prevent prejudices, even the mos unreasonable. The love of Christ is the best bond of the saints; an the communings of the saints with each other, sweeten labour, contempt and even persecution. Most of the Jews persisted in contradicting the gospel of Christ, and blasphemed. They would not believe themselves and did all they could to keep others from believing. Paul hereupo left them. He did not give over his work; for though Israel be no gathered, Christ and his gospel shall be glorious. The Jews could no complain, for they had the first offer. When some oppose the gospel, we must turn to others. Grief that many persist in unbelief should no prevent gratitude for the conversion of some to Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
ως 5613 ADV δε 1161 CONJ κατηλθον 2718 5627 V-2AAI-3P απο 575 PREP της 3588 T-GSF μακεδονιας 3109 N-GSF ο 3588 T-NSM τε 5037 PRT σιλας 4609 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM τιμοθεος 5095 N-NSM συνειχετο 4912 5712 V-IPI-3S τω 3588 T-DSN πνευματι 4151 N-DSN ο 3588 T-NSM παυλος 3972 N-NSM διαμαρτυρομενος 1263 5740 V-PNP-NSM τοις 3588 T-DPM ιουδαιοις 2453 A-DPM τον 3588 T-ASM χριστον 5547 N-ASM ιησουν 2424 N-ASM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Was pressed in the spirit (suneiceto tw pneumati). Instead of spirit the best texts read logw, by the word. On pressed or constrained, see note on taken, Luke iv. 38. The meaning is, Paul was engrossed by the word. He was relieved of anxiety by the arrival of his friends, and stimulated to greater activity in the work of preaching the word.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:5 {Was constrained by the word} (suneiceto twi logwi). this is undoubtedly the correct text and not t"i pneumati of the Textus Receptus, but suneiceto is in my opinion the direct middle imperfect indicative, not the imperfect passive as the translations have it (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 808). Paul held himself together or completely to the preaching instead of just on Sabbaths in the synagogue (verse #4). The coming of Silas and Timothy with the gifts from Macedonia (#1Th 3:6; 2Co 11:9; Php 4:15) set Paul free from tent-making for a while so that he began to devote himself (inchoative imperfect) with fresh consecration to preaching. See the active in #2Co 5:14. He was now also assisted by Silas and Timothy (#2Co 1:19). {Testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ} (diamarturomenos tois ioudaiois einai ton criston iesoun). Paul's witness everywhere (#9:22; 17:3). this verb diamarturomenos occurs in #2:40 (which see) for Peter's earnest witness. Perhaps daily now in the synagogue he spoke to the Jews who came. einai is the infinitive in indirect discourse (assertion) with the accusative of general reference. By Ton criston Paul means "the Messiah." His witness is to show to the Jews that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah.
