14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.
15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone;
16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.
Vs. 14 -“Nevertheless, you have done well” - Paraphrasing Paul’s words, “Guys. I am not blowing off the gifts you sent.” He had just told them he has learned how to do without amenities, but he wanted them to know their efforts to support him were appreciated.
Vs. 15 - “no church shared with me” - Paul and Silas (P & S) escaped Philippi after being harassed by some of city’s merchant leaders. As P & S work their way across Macedonia fleeing from Philippi, no other church provided missionary assistance so they could continue their ministry. Paul even went to work to support the work (See 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:7-9).
Backstory: P & S were harassed by a slave/servant girl who had a ‘spirit of divination’. This was not a spirit from God or Jesus. She followed them around Philippi proclaiming about them. Paul is annoyed and calls upon the spirit to leave her. It did, and now she could no longer tell fortunes for customers. The spirit was no longer in her. The merchants were furious. P & S were thrown in jail. Miracles happened. They are urged to leave Philippi in the middle of the night, escaping to Thessalonica. (See: Acts 16:12-40).
Vs. 16 -“for even in Thessalonica...” - Interesting phrase, “For even...” P & S only spent three weeks in Thessalonica, whereupon they were attacked by Jews, who dogged them even to the next city, Berea. The Philippi church sent support to the missionaries, even though they were only a few miles away. They sent gifts, not just a single offering.
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