Acts 17:10-15: The more noble Bereans

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1) v. 10a – Paul fled to Berea by night.

A)   Why?

1) vv. 5-10a

2) The Jews were jealous that people were listening to him.

3) So they falsely accused him of political sedition and treason against Caesar (v. 7).

4) Worst of all, it’s hard enough to be a Christian in this environment, and Paul didn’t want to make it worse for this brand-new group of disciples.

B)    (pic) Berea was off the road about 45 miles away from Thessalonica. It was where you go to disappear.

C)    v. 10b – You might think Paul would lay low for a while, but he went right to the synagogue and started teaching just like he always did.

2) v. 11 – The Berean Christians

A)   “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica”

1) “Noble” refers to people with elite status.

(a)   i.e. upper class, generational wealth, political power, etc.

(b)   cf. 1 or. 1:26 – not many wise, powerful, noble

(c)   It’s a little strange that Luke would use this word to refer to the Bereans. It’s not what I would expect from out-of-the-way Berea compared to the capital of the region, Thessalonica.

2) Luke isn’t referring to the Bereans’ bank accounts, or who their grandparents were, or their zip codes.

(a)   NASU – more noble-minded / NIV – of more noble character

(b)   POINT: The Bereans were acting like noble people in the sight of God.  

3) QUESTION: What does a more noble Christian look like?

A)   v. 11b – “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so”

1) A huge part of my work is chasing people around and basically begging them to have a study with me and care about the Bible. I learned a long time ago to send out text reminders when I’m scheduled to meet with someone because I’m at the bottom of their list. Maybe they’re meeting with me to be nice simply because I asked.

2) Occasionally, I’ll run into a person who cares and wants to learn and grow.

3) This willingness to listen is not the same thing as gullible acceptance.

(a)   Seminary saying: Don’t be so open-minded that your brains fall out.

(b)   cf. CNN / Fox News audience who just accept everything they’re told from their preferred propaganda.

(c)   The Bereans were not just nodding along because Paul was a persuasive speaker.

B)    “examining”

1) L/N – to try to learn the nature or truth of something by the process of careful study, evaluation and judgment.

2) BDAG – to examine with a view to finding fault

3) It’s the word that was used in a court setting for cross-examination.

4) POINT: They were willing to hear what Paul said, but that didn’t mean that they were just willing to accept it without making sure it was true.

C)    “the Scriptures”

1) v. 2 – Paul reasoned from the Scriptures.

2) The Bereans examined the Scriptures to see if these things were so.

3) Consider the environment for examining the Scriptures. This is a neat picture.

(a)   The ancient world is characterized by low literacy rates. They weren’t sitting at their kitchen tables reading their Bibles.

(b)   It was rare for an individual to own a Scripture scroll. They were the prized property of the synagogue.

(c)   This examining the Scriptures was a communal and interactive process. (e.g. Adam won’t let me get away with anything)

(d)   cf. “reasoning” (v. 2) = talking through

D)   “examining the Scripture daily”

1) This wasn’t just our normal Sabbath gathering.

2) Let’s come back tomorrow and pick up where we left off.

E)    v. 12 – “Many of them therefore believed…”

1) Based upon their open hearts and minds, their willingness to examine the Scripture daily…

2) They came to an understanding of the truth.

4) v. 13

A)   Massive success almost always breeds massive backlash.

B)    Imagine the hatred and dedication these hostile Jews must have had to travel 45 miles to run them off again. This was a multi-day trip that required money, provisions, exposure to the elements, and danger.

C)    They didn’t come to sit in the synagogue and be involved in the daily examination of Scripture. They came to agitate and stir up the crowds.

1) NET – inciting and disturbing

2) GW – upsetting and confusing

D)   Interesting note about the word agitate / shake. Found 15x in the NT, and a few of those refer to how God’s people will not be shaken:

1) Lk. 6:48 – The man who builds his house on the rock will not be shaken.

2) Lk. 21:26 – “The powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

3) Acts 2:25 (Peter quoting Ps. 16) – “I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken”

4) 2 Thess. 2:2 – Do not be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us…

5) God’s enemies strive to shake us up. God’s message to Christians is don’t be shaken.

5) vv. 14-15

A)   Paul was a lightning rod and the target of the Jews’ obsessive rage. He seems happy to remove the fuel from the fire for the sake of protecting this new group of disciples.

B)    Lesson: You don’t have to participate in every fight you’re invited to. It’s possible to win the argument but still lose if God’s purposes are ultimately hindered in the process.

1) My favorite method: “ok.”

2) The health and well-being of the churches in Thessalonica and Berea were infinitely more important than Paul engaging in and even winning a shouting match with the Jews.

C)    The thing that I think is most impressive about this situation is that Paul was self-aware enough and concerned enough for these young Christians that he realized that it would be better for them if he removed himself from the equation. That’s pretty impressive.