Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Thessalonians 1:8

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad g, so that we need not to speak any thing .

How could they be examples to persons so remote, amongst whom they had no converse? The Apostle here resolves it. It was by way of report. Things that are eminent, and done in eminent places, such as Thessalonica was, easily spread abroad, either by Merchants, Travellers, or correspondency by Letters. And this report is compared to a sound that is heard afar off, that made an eccho, as the word implies. And that which sounded out from you was the word of the Lord. The word is said to sound by the voice of the Preacher, 1 Cor. 14. 8, 9. Gal. 6.6. and by the practice of the hearers. The mighty Power and Efficacy of it was made known abroad, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place, not strictly every where, but here and there, up and down in the world. As its said of the Apostles Ministry, Their sound went into all the Earth, and their words to the end of the World, Rom. 10.18. The report of the Gospel went further than the Preachers of it, and their receiving the Gospel sounded abroad far and near. And not only the word, but your faith to Godward is spread abroad, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Your Faith being so eminent, it was spoken of far and near. That ye believed so soon at our first entrance, as ver. 9. And though we had been shamefully entreated at Philippi a little before our coming to you, and Persecution followed us and the Gospel we preached to you, yet ye believed, and your Faith was eminent in the Fruits and Operations of it also, as was mentioned before, and was afterwards in the Epistle. And it was Faith God-ward. It rested not upon men, no nor only the Man Christ Jesus whom we preached to you, but upon God himself, though through Christ ye became Worshippers of the true God, and believed on him with an exemplary Faith.

Either of the manner of our preaching the Gospel, and of your manner of receiving it. Where mens deeds speak and commend men, words may be silent. And the Apostle might have thought it needful to have divulged these things abroad for the advantage of the Gospel, and the examples of others if he had not been prevented by the report already spread abroad. The good examples of the people may ease their Ministers of some labour in spreading the Gospel.

Marginal references: Rom. 1.8.; Or, went out.