10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
Vs. 10 “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.”
Seeing then that Jews had set the whole city against the Apostle Paul and Silas, for their own safety then, the brethren sent them away at night to Berea, another city of Macedonia which was about 75 kilometers (45 miles) west of Thessalonica. Now when Paul and Silas arrived there, they once again went into the synagogue of the Jews and preached the Gospel there.
Vs. 11 “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
These people there then were fairer minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Word of God with all readiness and they checked the preaching of the Apostle Paul and Silas daily in the Scriptures to confirm if these things were so. This then is the pattern that every believer is to likewise follow, to take nothing at face value, but to check any and every preacher and teachers preaching and teaching in the Word of God to see if what they are declaring is accurate and truthful. Anyone then who is opposed to your confirming their preaching or teaching through the Holy Scriptures should be shunned by you.
Vs. 12 “Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.”
The effect of the Apostle Paul’s preaching and their searching the Scriptures to see if these things were so, was that many Jews there believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and not just Jews, but also Greeks (i.e., Gentiles), and along with them the Scripture also says prominent women and men of that city as well came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Gospel when rightly preached reaches across all societal and cultural and economic boundaries. For the Gospel is for everyone, not just one people, or class of people.
Vs. 13 “But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.
However, when the unbelieving Jews at Thessalonica learned that the Apostle Paul and Silas were now at Berea preaching the Word of God, they came there and once again stirred up the crowds against them.
Vs. 14 “Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.”
And so, to avoid another uproar like that which occurred at Thessalonica, the brethren immediately sent Paul away, to go this time by sea, since he had now become the primary target of the Jews who did not believe in that region. Therefore, land travel for him in that region was not now safely possible. However, with the Apostle Paul’s departure both Silas and Timothy were able to remain.
Vs. 15 “So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.”
Now the Apostle Paul did not travel alone but had several believers who traveled with him, who brought him to Athens, the birth place of free-thought and speech. And so, when the Apostle Paul arrived safely there, he sent a command back with them to tell Silas and Timothy to come to him with all urgency.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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