But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. Acts 17:13

Why were those who persecuted Paul and Silas in Thessalonica not content to get them out of their city? Why did they feel compelled to follow the missionaries to Berea to attack them there also? Here are a couple of reasons.

First, they were not primarily motivated to “protect” their city from Christianity, they were motivated more fervently by their hatred of Christ. Let’s not forget Jesus’ words in John 15:18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” It was their hatred of Christ that propelled them even to other places to rid the world of Christ and the gospel—as well as of those who would dare to preach Christ.

Second, consider how love and hatred, though opposites, have this in common: both are powerful motivators. It was the love of Christ that constrained Paul to proclaim Christ with “missionary zeal” (2 Corinthians 5:14). Likewise, it is hatred of Christ that drives persecutors to oppose Christ with a similar “missionary zeal.”

Understand that the love of Christ causes believers to proclaim Christ. But Christian missionary zeal is carried out with love, kindness, and persuasion, whereas anti-Christian missionary zeal is carried out with anger, violence, and persecution. Christians reason, encourage, and plead with people to believe. Zealous Muslim “missionaries,” for instance, demand, threaten, and even kill those with whom they “share their faith.”

The missionary zeal is similar, but the strategies are altogether different.

Let us not be less zealous for Christ and the gospel than those who hate Christ and the gospel. But let our zeal be fueled by love, even as Christ has loved us.