1 Thessalonians 1:7 - Exposition

So that ye were ensamples. The word here rendered "ensamples" literally signifies "types." It is used to denote a form or figure ( Acts 7:43 ), a model or likeness ( Acts 7:44 ), a mark or impression ( John 20:25 ). Hence, in a metaphorical sense, it came to signify an example, a pattern for imitation. "Now these things are our examples" ( 1 Corinthians 10:6 ). To all that believe —to all believers— in Macedonia and Achaia. These are the two provinces into which ancient Greece was divided by the Romans, each of which was governed by a proconsul Macedonia was the northern portion, including Macedonia proper, Epirus and Illyricum; at first it was divided into four districts, but afterwards united into one province, of which Thessalonica was constituted the capital. Achaia was the southern portion of ancient Greece, including the Peloponnesus, Attica, Boeotia, etc., and, until recently, was nearly of the same dimensions with the modern kingdom of Greece; its capital was Corinth.