Acts 17:1-15
Berean Questions
1When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
2As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.
4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.
5The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
6But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,
7and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”
8On hearing this, the crowd and city officials were greatly disturbed.
9And they collected bond from Jason and the others and then released them.
10As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
11Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
12As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.
13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.
14The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.
15Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
Berean Standard Bible
In Thessalonica, Paul reasons from the Scriptures and explains that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. Some believe, but jealous opponents form a mob and accuse the believers of saying there is another king, Jesus.
Paul and Silas are sent to Berea, where the people listen eagerly and examine the Scriptures every day. Their openness is not gullibility. They test what they hear and many believe. When trouble follows from Thessalonica, the brothers send Paul to the coast while Silas and Timothy remain.
They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
In Thessalonica, Paul reasons from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths, explaining that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. He identifies Jesus as the Christ, and some Jews, many God-fearing Greeks, and prominent women are persuaded. The response is mixed, but the message is presented through patient explanation rather than a bare demand for agreement.
Opponents become jealous and recruit men from the marketplace to form a mob. They attack Jason's house because Paul and Silas are not there, then drag Jason and some believers before the city officials. The accusation is political: the missionaries are said to defy Caesar by claiming another king, Jesus.
The officials take a bond from Jason and the others and release them. The church sends Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, where they enter the synagogue. The Bereans are described as more noble because they receive the word eagerly while examining the Scriptures daily to see whether Paul's teaching is true. Many believe, including Greek women and men of standing. When opponents from Thessalonica arrive, the believers send Paul toward the sea, while Silas and Timothy remain behind for a time.
Questions
1 How did Paul explain the message in Thessalonica?
AnswerHe reasoned from the Scriptures that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.
2 Why did the opponents become jealous?
AnswerThey were upset by the people joining Paul and Silas.
3 What did the Bereans do?
AnswerThey received the message eagerly and examined the Scriptures daily.
4 What happened when opposition reached Berea?
AnswerThe brothers sent Paul to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained.
What This Means for Us
Eagerness and careful testing belong together. We should listen with openness, check teaching against Scripture, and avoid letting either suspicion or excitement replace honest discernment.
Prayer
God, give us eager and discerning hearts. Help us welcome truth, test what we hear faithfully, and remain steady when opposition arrives. Amen.