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Acts 17

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

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

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

So Paul departed from among them.

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

What does Acts 17:11 mean?

Explanation

This verse from the Book of Acts highlights the character and actions of the Bereans, a group of Jews living in the city of Berea.

It states that they were more noble than those in Thessalonica because they welcomed the message preached by the Apostle Paul and his companion Silas with an open and eager mind.

Not content to take the message at face value, the Bereans diligently examined the Scriptures every day to verify the truths Paul was teaching.

The phrase "with all readiness of mind" suggests that they approached their study with a positive and willing attitude, displaying intellectual integrity and a genuine desire to learn.

This level of discernment and engagement with Scripture demonstrates their commitment to truth over tradition or mere emotional response.

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Historical Context

The verse is set during Paul's second missionary journey, as recorded in Acts 17.

After being forced to leave Thessalonica due to opposition, Paul and Silas traveled to Berea, a town in Macedonia.

At the time, Berea was a place where Greek culture thrived and it had a Jewish community who had access to the Hebrew Scriptures.

The culture prized knowledge and understanding, which may have contributed to the Bereans' readiness to receive and examine new teachings.

The setting illustrates the contrast between the responses of the Thessalonians and the Bereans to the Christian message.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse demonstrates a commendable attitude towards the revelation of God's Word.

The Bereans are seen as exemplary in their approach to teaching and learning, not blindly accepting what they hear, but actively engaging with Scripture to test its truthfulness.

This aligns with the broader theological theme in Christianity that faith should be reasoned and grounded in Scripture.

The Bereans' example serves as a model for theological reflection, suggesting that faith seeks understanding, and that understanding is found through diligent study of the Bible.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, this verse encourages individuals to apply critical thinking and discernment when encountering new doctrines or interpretations of Scripture.

It highlights the importance of not just accepting teachings , even from respected leaders , without personal examination of biblical texts.

It supports the idea of being open-minded yet analytical, showing readiness to receive the word but also a commitment to ensure teachings align with Scripture.

This approach can be applied in various aspects of life, such as decision-making, evaluating information, and engaging with different viewpoints constructively.

Cross-References

1 Thessalonians 5:21 - "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
2 Timothy 2:15 - "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
James 1:5 - "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse that merit attention are "eugenesteros" (translated as "more noble"), "prothumias" (translated as "readiness of mind"), and "anakrinontes" (translated as "searched").

"Eugenesteros" conveys a sense of nobility not by birth but through excellence of character.

"Prothumias" indicates an eager willingness or predisposition.

The term "anakrinontes" describes a thorough examination or judging after close scrutiny, often used in legal settings. These word choices emphasize the Bereans' deliberate and honorable approach to investigating the Scriptures.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the Greco-Roman world, philosophical schools often encouraged questioning and examination of different viewpoints, a cultural value the Bereans seem to reflect.

In contrast to other ancient religions where sacred texts were often the preserve of a priestly class and not subject to personal interpretation or challenge, the Jewish faith was unique in its encouragement of personal study and interaction with the Scriptures, a practice the Bereans exemplify.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse does not directly touch on any scientific concepts, the principles of investigation and evidence-based inquiry articulated by the Berean approach are akin to scientific methodology.

The Bereans' willingness to examine and confirm the veracity of the teachings they received mirrors the scientific spirit of validation through observation and analysis.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have praised the Berean Jews for their noble character as depicted in this verse.

John Calvin lauded them for not despising Paul's unfamiliar teachings, while still verifying them against the Scriptures.

Matthew Henry observed that they received the word with readiness and eagerness, but did not blindly believe without cross-checking against the authorities of the Old Testament.

More recent commentators have noted the need for modern Christians to emulate the Bereans' balance of open-mindedness, respectful listening, and critical examination when engaging with biblical teachings.

Acts 17

Acts 17

What does Acts 17:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 17:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?