THE NOBLE BEREANS

Passage: Acts 17:10-15

Key verse: 11

NIV

In Berea

10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas(A) away to Berea.(B) On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.(C) 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica,(D) for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures(E) every day to see if what Paul said was true.(F) 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.(G)

13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea,(H) some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The believers(I) immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas(J) and Timothy(K) stayed at Berea. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens(L) and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.(M)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paul and Silas in Berea

10 (A)The brothers[a] immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they (B)went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, (C)examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 (D)Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek (E)women of high standing as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, (F)agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers (G)immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and (H)Timothy remained there. 15 (I)Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as (J)Athens, and after receiving a command (K)for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

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Footnotes
  1. Acts 17:10 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 14
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Examining the Scriptures (1

-12)

Paul and Silas slipped out of Thessalonica at night and went to Berea. In Berea also they went first to the Jewish synagogue and began to teach the Bible. The Bereans were eager Bible students. They did not just listen to Paul's preaching; they searched the Scriptures for themselves to see if what Paul and Silas said was true. As a result, many Jews, as well as some prominent Greek women and some Greek men, believed in Jesus. If we read the Bible with a humble and truth-seeking heart, we can meet Jesus.

2. More trouble (13-15)

The Jews in Thessalonica were determined to stop the fruitful work in Berea, so they came to stir up the crowds against the apostles. The brothers sent Paul to the coast, then on to Athens, while Silas and Timothy stayed a few days longer in Berea. They left behind a handful of believers. Opposition and persecution cannot stop the gospel.

Prayer: Lord, help me to study your word with a prayerful, truth-seeking heart.

One Word: Truth-seekers are noble people