βAnd 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 soβ (Acts 17:10,11).
βBereans.β Have you ever heard of this title, friend? If you have been around Bible-believing circles, of course you have. It comes right out of todayβs Scripture. What Christian meaning does it carry?
After unbelieving Jews traveled to Thessalonica (northern Greece) to harass Paul and his ministry coworkers, the Christian brethren were forced to secretly send Paul and Silas by night. Paul and Silas arrived in nearby Berea, again entering the synagogue to preach to lost Jews. The wicked, unbelieving Jews heard of Paulβs entrance into Berea, so they traveled there to bother him again; the saints in Berea had to sneak Paul and his companions away once again, lest they be injured or killed.
Verses 12-14 follow todayβs Scripture: βTherefore many of them believed; also of honourable 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 Timotheus abode there still.β
Friends, the title βBereanβ will be forever preserved in the Word of God as indicative of someone who βreceived the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were soβ (todayβs Scripture). These Jews had copies of the writings of Moses and the Prophets (cf. Acts 13:15; Acts 15:21), and they appealed to that inspired record to verify if Paul and his companions were really preaching the truth. (There were no βNew Testamentβ Scriptures as of yet, remember.) They did not simply sit in the pew and mindlessly shout βAmen!β to whatever they heard the preacher say! As they eagerly heard the Apostles preach, they took the Word of God and studied it, using it to determine the quality of the message spoken. source
