Paul’s assertion that the Jews who persecuted the Christians displease God shows just how seriously he views the actions of the Jews in persecuting Jesus and the prophets and driving him out of towns where he preached to the Gentiles. For Paul, pleasing God is the touchstone of acceptable ministry and of all ethical behaviour. This is how he introduces the ethical instructions later in the present letter (1 Thessalonians 4:1), and how he describes a life that is worthy of God (Colossians 1:10); the sinful nature is characterized by its inability to please God (Romans 8:8), and Paul’s aim in ministry was always to please God (Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; see also Romans 15:3; 1 Corinthians 7:32–34; 2 Corinthians 5:9; 2 Timothy 2:4; 1 John 3:22).1,2
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind