CHRIST PREACHED IN BEREA

Acts 17:10-14 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women, which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timothy abode there still.

Although Paul and Silas were successful in establishing a church of Christ in Thessalonica, they were forced to leave the city due to extreme persecution brought about by zealous, unbelieving Jews. For their safety, they were sent away, in the darkness of night, by the brethren ...unto Berea, another seaport city that laid approximately a day's journey west of Thessalonica. Although they fled from persecution, they continued to serve the Christian cause. Immediately, upon arriving in Berea, and as it had become their habit, they went into the synagogue of the Jews to proclaim God's message of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The lesson text tells us that, when comparing the synagogue audiences that Paul and Silas had taught in Berea to those of Thessalonica, the Bereans were more enthusiastic and readily receptive to their Holy Spirit-inspired gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus. They were not biased with their past Jewish heritage and teaching. Rather they had open and receptive minds that anxiously received the word of God just as the seeds planted in honest and good hearts according to Luke 8:15. No doubt, Paul reasoned with them out of the scriptures just as he had done with those assembled in the synagogue in Thessalonica. And in doing so, proved that Jesus Christ fulfilled all Old Testament prophecies of the promised Messiah. Those of Berea, upon hearing this message from Paul, did what all should do - they searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Not only did these Bereans assemble in the synagogue to worship God, but they also studied God's word daily, in order to prove any religious teachings they heard to be truth or error. Applying this diligent, searching effort to the teachings of Paul and Silas, these Bereans proved that the Son of God, the promised Messiah, was, indeed, Jesus Christ.Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women, which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. As was true in many Roman cities and colonies, when the gospel of Christ was preached by Paul, and other devout preachers of God's word in the first century, many men and women, from all religious backgrounds, from all ranks of society, and from all nationalities, believed, obeyed, and were added, by God, to the church of Christ.

However, when the true New Testament word of God - the gospel of Christ was preached, oftentimes it is heard with varying results. Then as now, some often receive it while many others reject it. The result was the same on this occasion in Berea. However, the biggest rejection came from without the city of Berea. The unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica had followed Paul and Silas to Berea and stirred up the people. Not content with their own personal rejection of Jesus as the Savior, these spiritually blind, Satan-inspired Jewish zealots conspired to turn all Jews against Paul, as well as all other inspired preachers, and, also, to turn them against the gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus, which they taught.

It appears that Paul was the primary focus of the prejudiced opposition of these Thessalonian Jews. Here in Berea, when threatened, Paul demonstrated his Christian determination and courage as he did when imprisoned in Philippi, and as he did when he fled Thessalonica to avoid persecution under the cover of darkness. Realizing his peril, the newly baptized Christian brethren of Berea sent away Paul from them in a deceptive manner, as if he was traveling toward the sea. In actuality, Paul, after leaving Berea, changed his course, traveled by land (and possibly partially by sea), and came to the much-celebrated Grecian city of Athens. Although Silas and Timothy had remained in Berea during Paul's hasty departure, when arriving in Athens he sent for (them) to come to him with all speed, and obediently, they departed.