Act 17:10 | KingComments | STEP | The brethren think that Paul and Silas should leave Thessalonica. It is far too dangerous for them to stay there. Paul and Silas listen to the brethren. They recognize the voice of the Lord in what the brethren say. The brethren also decide where to go because they send them away to Berea. Paul and Silas leave unnoticed in the night. When they arrive in Berea, they act in the same way as always and go first to the synagogue of the Jews. Luke calls the Jews they find in the synagogue “more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica”. They are not noble by origin, but the nobility of these Jews is the willingness with which they receive the Word. It is a nobleness of mind, of spirit. The fact that they willingly accept the Word does not mean that they accept it blindly. They examine it in the light of the Scriptures. They hear all kinds of things about the Messiah, but they want to examine in the Old Testament whether what they hear is in accordance with what is written there. Examining means comparing Scripture with Scripture; it is a thorough examination. They don’t just do that on a certain occasion, but “daily”. Because of that examination many people come to faith. That faith is firmly based on the Word. We see in the order – first receiving with great eagerness and then examining – an important clue for fruitful Bible study. It begins with an eagerness to learn; then comes the study of the Bible. Doing Bible study without the eagerness to do what the Bible says leads to formalism and legalism. It does not lead to knowing God’s thoughts, but to pride. In addition to the many Jews who believe, many prominent Greek women and men also believe. The women are mentioned first, which may indicate that they are in the majority, or that they are more quickly convinced than the men. This victory through the gospel in Berea is brought to the attention of the Jews in Thessalonica. That message hits them like a hammer. The impact is explosive. The Jews from Thessalonica go to Berea. Their jealousy of and hatred against the gospel are so great that they are willing to travel the distance of seventy to eighty kilometers to oppose the gospel also in Berea. They manipulate the crowds with their false ideas about the gospel, which also causes turmoil and confusion there. Also in Berea the brethren consider it advisable that Paul leaves. The hatred of the Jews concentrates on Paul. Silas and Timothy can stay to teach the believers in Berea further in the faith. The brethren tell Paul to travel as far as the sea. Some of the brethren also go with him to accompany him. These brethren accompany him all the way to Athens. The accompaniment over such a long distance also proves their willing participation in the gospel. They are willing to do something for it. From there they return to Berea. Paul gives them the message for Silas and Timothy that they will join him in Athens as soon as possible. By this he does not mean to put pressure on their service, but he expresses his desire for their company. He is very fond of their company because of the support in the service they give him. It is important that servants do not go their way as loners, but acknowledge that they need each other. It is an acknowledgment of the diversity of the gifts that the Lord has given which complement each other.

‏ Acts 17:10

Paul and Silas in Berea

The brethren think that Paul and Silas should leave Thessalonica. It is far too dangerous for them to stay there. Paul and Silas listen to the brethren. They recognize the voice of the Lord in what the brethren say. The brethren also decide where to go because they send them away to Berea. Paul and Silas leave unnoticed in the night. When they arrive in Berea, they act in the same way as always and go first to the synagogue of the Jews.

Luke calls the Jews they find in the synagogue “more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica”. They are not noble by origin, but the nobility of these Jews is the willingness with which they receive the Word. It is a nobleness of mind, of spirit.

The fact that they willingly accept the Word does not mean that they accept it blindly. They examine it in the light of the Scriptures. They hear all kinds of things about the Messiah, but they want to examine in the Old Testament whether what they hear is in accordance with what is written there. Examining means comparing Scripture with Scripture; it is a thorough examination. They don’t just do that on a certain occasion, but “daily”. Because of that examination many people come to faith. That faith is firmly based on the Word.

We see in the order – first receiving with great eagerness and then examining – an important clue for fruitful Bible study. It begins with an eagerness to learn; then comes the study of the Bible. Doing Bible study without the eagerness to do what the Bible says leads to formalism and legalism. It does not lead to knowing God’s thoughts, but to pride.

In addition to the many Jews who believe, many prominent Greek women and men also believe. The women are mentioned first, which may indicate that they are in the majority, or that they are more quickly convinced than the men.

This victory through the gospel in Berea is brought to the attention of the Jews in Thessalonica. That message hits them like a hammer. The impact is explosive. The Jews from Thessalonica go to Berea. Their jealousy of and hatred against the gospel are so great that they are willing to travel the distance of seventy to eighty kilometers to oppose the gospel also in Berea. They manipulate the crowds with their false ideas about the gospel, which also causes turmoil and confusion there. Also in Berea the brethren consider it advisable that Paul leaves.

The hatred of the Jews concentrates on Paul. Silas and Timothy can stay to teach the believers in Berea further in the faith. The brethren tell Paul to travel as far as the sea. Some of the brethren also go with him to accompany him. These brethren accompany him all the way to Athens. The accompaniment over such a long distance also proves their willing participation in the gospel. They are willing to do something for it. From there they return to Berea.

Paul gives them the message for Silas and Timothy that they will join him in Athens as soon as possible. By this he does not mean to put pressure on their service, but he expresses his desire for their company. He is very fond of their company because of the support in the service they give him. It is important that servants do not go their way as loners, but acknowledge that they need each other. It is an acknowledgment of the diversity of the gifts that the Lord has given which complement each other.