Acts 17:11

New International Version

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

For Meditation

Truth is the foundation upon which Christianity rises or falls. When we compromise this foundation, everything falls like a deck of cards. When we jealously guard and maintain the integrity of this foundation, the church stands firm upon the Rock of Ages, Christ Jesus, who is the Lord of the church (Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18), the Truth (John 14:6) and its foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11).

In this fast-paced media era where Christian messaging and teaching thrive, maintaining sound doctrinal truth and proper theological practices has become an enormous challenge and threat to the faith. The preachers and teachers on these platforms everywhere are savvy. They know what people want to hear and have the knack and charisma to deliver their messages to meet their needs (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

It is a challenge the church must accept and confront with sound doctrinal teaching, preaching, proper application, and noble congregational reception. To highlight this, I raise two specific cases from Paul’s ministry in two churches. 

Paul had a tough time in Thessalonica with a band of jealous Jews who incited a riot against him and his Gospel companions (Acts 17:5-8). His approach to the Gospel proclamation proved effective in the synagogue. He reasoned with them from the scriptures, carefully explaining the scriptures to show how the Messiah would suffer to death and resurrect (v.3). He pointed to the Jesus he proclaimed as the Messiah. His message persuaded some Jews, many God-fearing Greeks, and a few prominent women (v.4). That is the effect of careful use and application of scriptures, the kind preaching and teaching we need today. Shamefully, it did not sit well with the jealous Jews who sought after his life. The believers, therefore, smuggled them out of town to Berea under cover of night (v.10). 

Paul did not give up. He taught with the same conviction as in Thessalonica. He, however, received an uncommon response from the Bereans. The word says the Bereans received the message with open minds, great eagerness, and careful examination of the scriptures (v.11). They had a hunger for the word, so they welcomed the teaching of Paul. Yet, they searched the scriptures daily for proof they were scripturally sound. Is it any wonder the Holy Spirit characterizes the Bereans as nobler than the Thessalonians?

That is our challenge as believers. We must search the scriptures after every message we hear to affirm its biblical purity and sound doctrinal application. That is uncommon nobility, a gem the Lord applauds in the kingdom of God.