Acts 17:1-15
Berean Questions
Read the passage
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
Read aloud
Paul explains from the Scriptures that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. Then he identifies Jesus as that Christ. He is asking his hearers to understand how the promise and Jesus' life belong together.
Some believe. Jealous opponents instead gather a mob and raid Jason's house, looking for Paul and Silas. When they cannot find them, they drag Jason and other believers before the officials. Welcoming the missionaries has made Jason a target too.
In Berea, Paul and Silas find hearers who combine eagerness with careful examination:
They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
Their checking is part of receiving the message seriously. They neither dismiss Paul without listening nor accept his claims merely because he speaks confidently. Many come to believe as they examine what he teaches.
Opponents eventually follow Paul to Berea, and the believers send him on to safety. The movement of the story is unsettled, but the basis of the message remains steady: Jesus is the Christ, and the Scriptures are open for the hearers to examine.
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, then identified Jesus as that promised Christ.
2 Why was Jason brought before the officials?
AnswerThe mob could not find Paul and Silas at his house, so they dragged Jason and other believers before the officials and accused him of welcoming the missionaries.
3 What did the Bereans do?
AnswerThey received the message eagerly and examined the Scriptures every day to see whether Paul's teaching was true.
4 What happened when opposition reached Berea?
AnswerThe brothers sent Paul toward the coast for safety, while Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. Paul was escorted to Athens.
What This Means for Us
When a sermon, video, or devotion makes a claim about God, we can open the passage and read it in context. Does the explanation fit what is actually there? A child's honest question can help the whole family slow down and look. We do not need to choose between trusting Scripture and asking careful questions about someone's interpretation of it.
Prayer
God, give us eager and discerning hearts. Help us welcome truth, test what we hear faithfully, and remain steady when opposition arrives. Amen.