Berea
Acts 17:10–15
Overview
For the second time, Paul fled a city under cover of “night” (cf. 9:25; Matt. 10:23). He and Silas left the Via Egnatia, at Thessalonica, and took the eastern coastal road toward Athens. They headed for Berea (modern Verria), about 45 miles west-southwest of Thessalonica. Berea was a very old Macedonian city situated on the Astraeus River. In spite of continued Jewish antagonism, Paul and Silas launched their ministry in this town, again by visiting “the synagogue.” (Constable)
Places
Berea- This city, lying in the foothills of the Olympian range, was not on the Via Egnatia but rather some fifty miles south and west of Thessalonica by means of a lesser road. Cicero tells us it was off the beaten track and one may well wonder whether it was somewhere Paul had intended to go. Yet as such intention is possible, for this was the most significant city in the area, being capital of one of the divisions of Macedonia from 167 to 148 b.c. It is, however, also possible that Paul’s plan had been to continue along the Via Egnatia and thence onto Rome. Like Thessalonica, Berea was administered by politarchs, but the rulings of those in Thessalonica had no force in another city like Berea. (Witherington)
People
Noble Jews- Once again, Paul and Silas go to the synagogue, but here, according to verse 11, the Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, by which Luke means they were more receptive to the gospel. It is noticeable that hereand at 17:21 Luke openly offers value judgements about the peoples in these regions. Is this due to the personal knowledge of one who grew up in Macedonia and knew the characteristics of the peoples in his region? These Jews welcomed the message “with all eagerness,” daily examining the Scriptures to see whether Paul’s message was true. (Witherington) Judaism regarded nobly those who checked everything against the Scriptures and diligently listened to teachers; Greek philosophers likewise praised those who listened attentively. (Keener)
Key Ideas
Persecution- As had happened to Paul before in Lystra, when Jews in the city Paul had just visited (in this case Thessalonica) got wind of what was happening in Berea, they came to Berea to stir up a crowd against Paul. Thus we are told at verse 14 that the new believers took quick action and sent Paul off toward the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed behind, presumably to strengthen the church and make sure it endured this crisis. (Witherington) Thessalonians had no legal jurisdiction in Berea, but mobs are not prone to follow the law. (Keener)
Possible Discussion Points
- Paul was forced to leave Berea because of agitators in Thessalonica. Do you have something following you that prevents you from doing ministry?
- It says that the Bereans “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” When you do ministry, do you encourage people back to the word after teaching? When you receive teaching, do you go back to the word to wrestle through the text yourself?
- The more we do mission, the more persecution we’re likely to face. Are you currently facing any persecution? How are you currently working through it?
Noteworthy
The brothers sent Paul and Silas, when it was night and dark, and they could pass unobserved, in order to preserve them from the fury of the mob. (Gill)
Paul traveled to the Aegean sea, or Archipelago, near to which Berea was: this seems to have been done, in order to make the people conclude that he intended to take shipping, and go into some other parts of the world, when the design was to go to Athens by foot, and so be safe from any lying in wait of his persecutors. (Gill)
(That’s all I’ve got this was a light chapter. I could use some help. I’ve already looked through Constable, Witherington, Keener, and Gill)
