Acts 17:10, commentary and pictures

This verse comes after the stay at Philippi and the work in Thessalonica, where Paul and Silas addressed large congregations in the Jewish synagogue with the marks of their recent shameful treatment still visible upon them, explaining what had happened by magnifying God who had delivered them rather than by exalting themselves. Their preaching at Thessalonica reasoned from Old Testament prophecies to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, setting forth the prophecies of His birth, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. Jews envious of the large congregations and of the conversions among leading women and Gentiles, and anxious to regain favor with Rome, incited a mob with false charges of tumult and insurrection to break into the house of Jason to seize Paul and Silas and drag them before the authorities, but the apostles were already gone so the disappointed mob seized Jason and his brother instead.

After the magistrates placed the accused believers under bonds to keep the peace, the brethren and friends, foreseeing further violence and learning that a mob was coming, secretly hurried Paul and Silas out of Thessalonica and sent them away to Berea by night. Coming to Berea, Paul and Silas went into the synagogue of the Jews to preach the gospel of Christ. There the Bereans proved more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see whether the things preached were so, and therefore many of them believed, also honorable Greek women and not a few men.

They stand as a model of careful, prayerful Scripture study, examining the Scriptures to test what they were taught and to become acquainted with God's words, which calls for seeking what Scripture itself teaches rather than relying on a minister, church, or friend. After the nighttime departure to Berea, Paul later went on to Athens, accompanied part of the way by some newly converted Bereans who wanted to learn more about the way of life, and he sent them back with word for Silas and Timothy to join him, while Silas and Timothy remained in Berea to continue the work and teach the new converts. Questioning doubts and obstinate unbelief are not commended, while diligent searching of the Scriptures should be awakened in those who honestly desire to be right when truth is presented in these last days, and it produces similar results. Those opposite to the Bereans cannot controvert the doctrine presented yet refuse to investigate the evidence in its favor, assume that even if it is truth it matters little whether they accept it, and hold their old customs and faith as good enough, but the Lord who sent the message holds people responsible for the manner in which they treat that message of heavenly origin, and God will judge all according to the light presented to them.