Who Were The Bereans?
Scripture tells us, in Acts 17, about Paul and Silas preaching the Gospel to those at a Jewish Synagogue in Berea. This was on Paul’s second missionary journey when he encountered them. Previously, Paul and Silas had preached to the Thessalonians where some believed, and others formed a mob, that pushed them out of that region. It was soon after they were kicked out of Thessalonica that they arrived in Berea to preach to the people there. Paul commended the Bereans and called them more noble than those in Thessalonica. Although it’s a short section of Scripture where the Bereans are mentioned, what did they do that made Paul commend them?
Why Did Paul Commend Them?
When Paul preached the Gospel to the Bereans, Scripture says they received the truth with “eagerness.” They were hungry for the Gospel, but the Bible didn’t stop there in describing their response to hearing the good news about Jesus. The Bereans were eager to hear the truth about Jesus, but they also searched and examined the Old Testament Scripture and compared it to what Paul was teaching. They tested Paul’s teaching against the guidelines of God’s Word and Paul commended them for seeking guidance and direction from the Lord, not men. Paul carried authority as an apostle, yet he still praised their unwavering diligence in staying true to Scripture. As believers, our ultimate authority is God’s Word, and we should always search the Scriptures to test ideas that come our way. Our worldview should be shaped by His word. The Bereans grasped God’s Word willingly and eagerly, which is why Paul called them “more noble.”
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” -Acts 17:11
What Can We Learn From Their Example?
In our current and ever-changing culture, many thoughts and ideas are thrown at us daily. Ideas are like seeds…they can grow into a worldview that turns into a way of life. So be cautious about what you fill your mind with because the thoughts of your heart will determine your actions and it affects your daily living. Just like the Berean’s tested Paul’s teaching, we should investigate the teaching of those around us and compare it with the principles of the truth found in God’s Word (Gal. 1:8). Our priority is to uphold the truth and live according to it as we walk through a dark world.
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” -Proverbs 4:23-27
“Ideas are like seeds. They might seem small; they might seem insignificant; they might even go unnoticed by all except those who hold them in the moment. But let there be no doubt: both ideas and seeds are incredibly powerful. From seeds dropped in fertile ground grow the mighty oaks that anchor the land, altering the course of the rivers and wind. And from ideas planted in the fertile soil of the human mind grow the thoughts and convictions of mankind, altering the course of history for the world and the individual.” –an excerpt from Ken Ham in One Race, One Blood (pg. 7).
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” -Psalm 118:8
Be A Berean!
Here at Ethnos360 Bible Institute, we value God’s word and seek to align our lives according to His truth. We place our confidence and trust in God`s word over man’s word. Take time to prayerfully consider taking the next step in coming to Ethnos360 Bible Institute! Request your free information packet today!
