Acts 17:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

NIV: As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.

NASB: The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

CSB: As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

NLT: That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.

KJV: And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

NKJV: Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

A consistent rhythm has developed in Paul's evangelism. He enters a new town and finds the Jewish synagogue. After spending several weeks clarifying the prophecies about the Messiah and showing how Jesus of Nazareth fits those prophecies, many of the God-fearing Gentiles and some of the Jews believe him. Others of the Jews grow jealous of his following and first push him out of the synagogue and then the city.

So it is that Jews have threatened a riot in Thessalonica and the church members there have sent Paul and Silas to Berea (Acts 17:1–9). In the Berean synagogue, however, Paul finds something new: people who diligently study the Scriptures to determine for themselves if his message is true (Acts 17:11).

Jewish synagogues were developed during or after the Babylonian captivity when the temple was destroyed but the people knew they needed to follow the Mosaic law more carefully. Typically, the ruler of the synagogue would choose others to perform the parts of the service. One man would recite prayers, others would read from the Law and Prophets, another would interpret if the congregation wasn't fluent in Hebrew, yet another would give a sermon. Often, the synagogue ruler would choose a traveling teacher to give the sermon; he would provide a fresh perspective the synagogue members could discuss.

The Bereans are still held as an example to the church to determine of a preacher teaches truth (1 John 4:1), but they are not mentioned again in the Bible—not even when Paul returns to Macedonia (Acts 20:1).

Acts 17:10–15 introduces a church which becomes an example for all of Christianity: the Bereans. The jealous Jews of Thessalonica have driven Paul and Silas out of town by threatening the church members. Not willing to face more persecution than necessary, the church send the two to Berea. When the evangelists explain how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, the Bereans respond with a form of cautious skepticism. They study those prophecies, checking Paul's message for accuracy, and find he's right. Unfortunately, the Jews from Thessalonica follow and cause such problems that the new Berean church sends Paul away to Athens.

Acts 17 describes how Paul's ministry travels down the coast of Greece. In Thessalonica, some Jews and God-fearing Gentiles believe while other Jews start a riot (Acts 17:1–9). The Bereans study the veracity of Paul's statements—until the Thessalonian Jews arrive and threaten to start another riot (Acts 17:10–15). Paul flees to Athens where the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers accept Paul's argument when he uses Greek poets to introduce God as the creator of the world, but lose interest when he mentions the resurrection from the dead (Acts 17:16–34).

Acts 17 continues Paul and Silas' travels out of Macedonia and on to Greece. The two have been through modern-day Asia minor where they picked up Timothy in Lystra and Luke in Troas (Acts 16:1–10). They have established a strong church in Philippi but were forced to leave after being falsely imprisoned (Acts 16:11–40). They now skip down the coast to Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. From here, they will spend a considerable amount of time in Corinth before heading back to Judea and Syrian Antioch (Acts 18:1–22).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.