1 Thessalonians 2:18

“Wherefore we would have come unto you, etc.] They not only had a will, and purposed in themselves, and entered into some resolutions to come unto them, but endeavoured to put them into execution: even I Paul: as well as Silas and Timothy; the latter of which had been with them, and the others had as good a will, and especially Paul: and that once and again: or “once and twice” so the Jews used f8 to speak jyynçw hnwçar µ[p, “one time and a second”; that is, several times: but Satan hindered us. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, “hindered me”; by moving the mob which rose at Thessalonica, to go to Berea, and disturb the apostle there; which obliged him, contrary to his will, to go to…”

“Wherefore--The oldest manuscripts read, "Because," or "Inasmuch as." we would--Greek, "we wished to come"; we intended to come. even I Paul--My fellow missionaries as well as myself wished to come; I can answer for myself that I intended it more than once. His slightly distinguishing himself here from his fellow missionaries, whom throughout this Epistle he associates with himself in the plural, accords with the fact that Silvanus and Timothy stayed at Berea when Paul went on to Athens; where subsequently Timothy joined him, and was thence sent by Paul alone to Thessalonica (Th1 3:1). Satan hindered us--On a different occasion "the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Jesus" (so the oldest manuscripts…”

“Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul - The phrase “even I Paul,” seems to be used by way of emphasis. He had a special desire to go himself. He had sent Timothy to them 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:5, and perhaps, some might have been disposed to allege that Paul was afraid to go himself, or that he did not feel interest enough in them to go, though he was willing to send one to visit them. Paul, therefore, is at much pains to assure them that his long separation from them was unavoidable. But Satan hindered us - Compare the notes on 2 Corinthians 12:7. In what way this was done is unknown, and conjecture would be useless. The apostle recognized the hand of Satan in…”

“Satan - By those persecuting Jews, Act 17:13. 1 Thessalonians 2:19”

“2:18 again and again: Paul made repeated attempts to return to the Thessalonian church. Despite the opposition of Satan (see Rom 16:20; 2 Cor 2:11; Eph 6:10-12), both Timothy (1 Thes 3:2, 5) and Paul (Acts 20:1-3) were eventually able to visit the church again.”

“even: Co1 16:21; Col 4:18; Th2 3:17; Plm 1:9 once: Job 33:14; Phi 4:16 Satan: Zac 3:1, Zac 3:2; Rom 1:13, Rom 15:22; Co2 11:12-14; Rev 2:10, Rev 12:9-12 1 Thessalonians 2:19”