The city of Thessalonica was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and the most important city in the region. It sat at the intersection of the major east-west and north-south highway and had the best natural harbor on the Agean. The city was designated a free city in 42 B.C., which gave them the right to self rule. They were ruled by a local citizens assembly (ekklesia) and city leaders called Politarchs. Paul's ministry there was cut short by opposition from the Jews, and so the letters of 1-2 Thessalonians addresses the needs of a very new church. ​