{And then immediately} (euthe(9373) de tote). They acted
swiftly as in Thessalonica. {Sent forth} (exapesteilan). Double
compound (ex, apo, both out and away) common in late Greek.
First aorist active indicative (exapostell(935c), liquid verb). Same
form in  9:30 . {As far as to the sea} (he(9373) epi t(886e)
thalassan). It is not clear whether Paul went all the way to
Athens by land or took ship at Dium or Pydna, some sixteen miles
away, and sailed to Athens. Some even think that Paul gave the
Jews the slip and went all the way by land when they expected him
to go by sea. At any rate we know that Paul was grieved to cut
short his work in Macedonia, probably not over six months in all,
which had been so fruitful in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Beroea.
Silas and Timothy (note his presence) remained behind in Beroea
and they would keep the work going. Paul no doubt hoped to return
soon. Silas and Timothy in Beroea would also serve to screen his
flight for the Jews wanted his blood, not theirs. The work in
Macedonia spread widely ( 1Th 1:7f. ).