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Is there contradiction between the Holy Book of I Thessalonians 2:14-16 and the Holy Book of Acts 17:2-3 since the main "opponents" of Paul throughout the Holy Book of Acts are the Jews. They are angry that St Paul is preaching to the "Greeks" and find it unlawful for him to do so. In the Holy Book of Acts, the Greek officials also become opponents because their wives are now becoming followers of Jesus Christ, which they are not happy about. In contrast, however, St Paul in his letter does not mention anything about the Jewish synagogue. Nor does he mention the presence of Jews either among his Christian converts nor anywhere else in town. The people that St Paul converts in Thessalonica are former pagans that had been worshiping idols. Thus, these converts were neither Jews nor God-fearers.

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth." (Acts 13:46-47)

These two verses summarize St. Paul's strategy in his missionary work. His approach was always to begin with the Jews, to give them the first offer of evangelism, and not to turn to the Gentiles till after the Jews had refused it. This would enable him to silence any attacks against him for preaching to the Gentiles. For if they received the Holy Gospel they would cheerfully embrace the new converts; if they refused it, they might thank themselves when the apostles carried it to those that would bid it welcome. That command of beginning at Jerusalem was justly construed because they had instruction to start with the Jews.

The mission he was commanded to undertake was very clear in his mind "For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles" but we see him from the very first day entering the service of the Lord always starting in every city to preach first  in the synagogue. This in many places did not mean that he taught Jews only but also Gentiles either at the same time or after being rejected by the Jews.

1. In Damascus he preached to the Jews.
   "So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus." Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God." (Acts 9:19-20)



2. In Salamis he preached to the Jews.
   "And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews." (Acts 13:5)



3. In Antioch he preached first to the Jews and when they rejected him he was begged by the Gentiles to preach to them.
   We have a detailed account of how he started preaching to the Jews who did not want to listen to and deserted him, and how afterwards he preached to the Gentiles.
   
   "But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down." (Acts 13:14).
   
   "So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath" (Acts 13:42).



4. In Iconium he preached to both Jews and Gentiles at the same time in the synagogue.
   "Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed." (Acts 14:1)



5. In Thessalonica.
   "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews" (Acts 17:1).
   
   "And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas." (Acts 17:4)



6. In Berea both Jews and Greeks believed.
   "Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews." (Acts 17:10).
   
   "Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men." (Acts 17:12)



7. In Athens.
   "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there" (Acts 17:16-17).
   
   "However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them" (Acts 17:34).



8. In Corinth.
   "After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth" (Acts 18:1).
   
   "And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks" (Acts 18:4).



9. In Ephesus.
   "And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews." (Acts 18:19)."And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus" (Acts 19:1).
   
   "And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus" (Acts 19:8-9).

Looking at St. Paul's preaching style in the different cities we can conclude that the Holy Book of I Thessalonians 2:14-16 does not contradict the Holy Book of Acts 17:2-3 but compliments it giving us a comprehensive preview of the situation.