Are We Bereans?
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For years, the verse that I’ve used to guide my life is Acts 17:10-11.
Background?
Background?
The story starts in the city of Thessalonica.
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
As Paul was traveling with with Silas, they passed through Thessalonica.
This was a large city, capital of the region and where the Roman governor lived.
As was his custom, Paul went to the local synagogue on the Sabbath and taught from the Scripture that Jesus was the Messiah.
And as usually happened, some people were persuaded, and began following what was know as “The Way”.
However, not everyone was pleased with this situation.
But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Envious Jews, who would have thought.
But how often do those who call themselves Christians become envious of those we disagree with?
When pastors get together, they almost always talk about the size of their congregations.
It would be hard to believe that some did not become envious of their larger and more prosperous colleagues.
When we see a congregation that is thriving and growing, we often want to know why, don’t we?
And sometimes we get jealous of their success.
Wondering why our congregation is not growing their theirs.
So we shouldn’t be too surprised when the Jews in this synagogue sees some else drawing their members away.
But look at what these jealous Jews did.
They went and found evil men.
When you first step is to find evil men, you can be sure you are up to no good.
And they gathered a mob.
Another clue that what you are doing is wrong.
They set the city in an uproar.
Sound like what has happened in some of our cities recently?
And the attacked the house of Jason.
Why Jason?
According to verse 6, they were looking for Paul and Silas.
So it is reasonable to assume that Paul and Silas were staying at Jason’s house.
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”
Paul and Silas weren’t there, so they took Jason and some other believers and dragged them to the city rulers.
They made false accusations against Paul and Silas,
Never a sign that you are doing good.
And blamed Jason for harboring them.
And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
So after making trouble, they got Jason to post bail in order to be let go.
Which bring us to my favorite verses.
What is a Berean
What is a Berean
Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
Paul and Silas escape the mob in Thessalonica and end up in Berea.
As usual, they head to the synagogue.
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Notice how the Bereans are described.
They were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica.
Literally, more noble.
Why?
Because they readily received the word, then searched the Scriptures to find out of what they had heard was true.
Life Verse
Life Verse
You may be asking, why this verse has so guided my life.
Simple, the Bereans were considered more noble because they did two thing.
Two things I think those of us who follow Christ should be doing today.
First, “they received the word with all readiness”.
They were ready to receive the word of others,
Even if it contradicted what they though.
Compare this with the reaction of those in Thessalonica.
Some received, others reacted violently.
Second, they didn’t just receive the word of others, they did so critically.
“and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
They didn’t just accept what they heard,
They checked to see if it was accurate.
Compare this to how many in church, especially congregational leaders, react.
Do they listen?
For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Do they verify?