Hearing the Good News, searching the Scriptures, and Believing in Jesus Christ.

Acts 17:10-12

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“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.” Acts 17:10-12

The Holy Spirit is letting us know that some hearts are receptive to the Gospel seed but others are hardened against the Good News. Jesus spoke the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-23. Jesus speaks of the Gospel seed among the thorns, by the wayside, on rocky ground, and in good soil.

In Thessalonica, the people of the Jewish culture riled up a mob of wicked men to come after Paul and Silas for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They also riled up the city officials against the influencers of the way of Christ. Christians helped Paul and Silas to escape to Berea. This is spoken about in the posts of Acts 17:1-10. On the map below, Berea is seen just southwest of Thessalonica.

While on his missionary journey, the custom of Paul was to enter whatever Jewish synagogues were available. After all, the Jewish people claimed a monopoly on God and had in possession the only Scriptures on earth inspired by the Holy Spirit. Those scriptures point to Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. Everyone else, all non-Jewish people, were considered Gentiles. In the Jewish culture, it is very hard to convince anyone that it is possible to live for God by faith in Jesus Christ and not through the laws of Judaism. For the Gentiles, faith came by hearing about Jesus not through the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul and Silas were preaching a message that the letter of the law kills but the Spirit gives life, “… [Jesus] also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6

Because Paul and his companions were preaching about Salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, some Jewish people wanted to kill him literally, like those from Thessalonica, but others were willing to listen and search for the truth, like those of Berea.

Paul showed from the Old Testament Scriptures how Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies of the coming of the Christ and Savior of the world. The Scriptures of the Old Testament that points to Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is called the “scarlet cord”. The Jewish people in Berea were willing to listen to Paul about Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and even searched the Scriptures to discover the truth for themselves. After doing so, many Jewish people believed, and more than a few of the “God-Fearing” Greeks/Gentiles, as well as many of the “God-Fearing” prominent women and men.

As followers of Jesus Christ, whatever we hear someone speak about the word of God, let’s be sure to stay rooted in a personal relationship with God by reading the Bible for ourselves. All Scriptures must center around Jesus Christ, the message of the Cross, forgiveness of sin, the resurrection, eternal life, and the judgment to come beyond the grave.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11