2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, andon three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from theScriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiahhad to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I amproclaiming to you is the Messiah," he said. - P24
11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble characterthan those in Thessalonica, for they received the messagewith great eagerness and examined the Scriptures everyday to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result,
many of them believed, as did also a number of promi-nent Greek women and many Greek men. - P25
15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens andthen left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to joinhim as soon as possible. - P25
Paul preaches about the Messiah in Thessalonica. Some Jews and Greeksbelieve, but other Jews become jealous and start a riot. That same night, thebelievers send Paul and Silas to Berea to protect them. Many of the Jewishand Greek Bereans receive their message. The troublemakers in Thessalonicacome to Berea and stir up another crowd, so Paul is sent away. - P25
After arriving in Thessalonica, Paul argues in the synagogue for threeSabbath days about how Jesus is the Christ. - P26
Offended by Paul‘s teach-ing, many Jewish leaders and their followers cause a citywide riot inpursuit of Paul and Silas whom they cannot find. Even in the face ofdanger and violence, Paul and Silas continue to proclaim Jesus as Mes-siah. - P26
Like these courageous men of faith, we too may be attacked andpersecuted by the world for loving Jesus and for supporting those whoboldly preach His message. - P26
In the face of opposition, let us perseverein the good work of sharing the gospel so that more people would hearand believe that Jesus Christ died for us and rose from thegrave to saveus from our sins. - P26
In stark contrast to the Thessalonian Jews, the Jews in Berea are morereceptive to the gospel. Many Greeks, including some prominent woman,- put their faith in Christ as well. - P26
What made the Berean Jews morereceptive than the Thessalonian Jews? They did not judge Paul‘s mes-sage based on their own prejudices or expectations. Instead, they testedPaul‘s teaching against the teachings of Scriptures. - P26
They examined theWord of God for themselves and discovered that Paul was speaking thetruth. - P26
Likewise, when we hear someone preach or teach in the name ofJesus, we should study the Scriptures to confirm for ourselves that theirteaching aligns with the Word of God. - P26
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