Are We Berean?

I was asked the other day, what type of christian was I.

It wasn’t put quite that way.

They wanted to know what denomination I am,

As if Jesus was like Baskin’ Robins, with 31 flavors.

I told them I was a Berean.

They didn’t know what that meant.

And I’m sure some of you don’t either.

As I explained it to the person I had asked, let me explain it to you.

Thessalonica

Our story starts in the book of Acts, chapter 17, in Thessalonica.

Acts 17:1–4 NKJV

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.

Paul was traveling with Silas when they came to the city of Thessalonica.

It was a large city,

Roman capital of Macedonia.

Paul, as was his custom, went to the local synagogue and taught from the Scriptures about Jesus.

Some believed, others did not.

Acts 17:5–9 NKJV

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. 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.” 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.

2,000 years and people are still pretty much the same.

We hear something we disagree with, and we try to shut it down.

We find someone who supporting that idea, and we vilify them, punish them, and try to get them put out of business.

Sound familiar?

Isn’t this First Century Cancel Culture in action?

Some of the Jews were not persuaded by Paul and become envious.

This Paul guy is getting too much attention.

They gather a mob and start a “mostly peaceful demonstration”,

Complete with uproars and attacks on people and their property.

How dare Jason “harbor” these men who contradict us, who challenge our positions?

And just exactly what law of Caesar did Paul violate?

Notice, they didn’t claim Paul violated Scripture, but Roman law.

Only after extorting some form of security, did they let this innocent man go.

Berea

Acts 17:10 NKJV

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

So those who believe in Christ send Paul and Silas away to another city, called Berea.

And when they arrived, what did Paul and Silas do?

Why they went to the synagogue to teach about Jesus, just as they did in Thessalonica.