Acts 17:10-15: a reflection

10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men. 13But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes. 14Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there. 15But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.

When Paul preaches at Berea, the people there respond in a way Luke commends: they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Notice the combination: they were eager to receive the word, open and ready; and yet they did not simply accept it uncritically, but examined the Scriptures to test whether what Paul said was true. Eager openness, joined with careful examination against Scripture: this Luke calls noble.

Notice the two things the Bereans held together: eager openness, and careful examination. They were eager to receive the word, not closed or resistant; they welcomed it readily. And yet they did not accept it uncritically; they examined the Scriptures daily to test whether it was true. They were teachable but discerning, open but not gullible, eager to receive yet careful to verify against Scripture. This combination, eagerness and examination, is the noble way to receive teaching.

That combination is worth cultivating, for we can err toward either extreme. We can be closed and resistant, unwilling to receive; or we can be uncritically gullible, accepting whatever we are told without testing it. But the Bereans were both eager and examining: open to receive the word, yet testing it against Scripture. When you hear teaching, be like the Bereans: eager to receive what is good, open and teachable, yet examining it against Scripture to see whether it is true. Do not be closed and resistant, unwilling to learn; nor gullible, accepting whatever you are told without testing. Receive teaching eagerly, but examine it against Scripture, as the Bereans examined the Scriptures daily to test what Paul said. Be teachable and discerning together, eager to receive the truth yet careful to test it against God's word, as the noble Bereans received the word eagerly and examined the Scriptures to verify it.

Lord, when Paul preached at Berea, the people responded in a way Luke commends: they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Show me the combination: they were eager to receive the word, open and ready; and yet they did not simply accept it uncritically, but examined the Scriptures to test whether it was true. Eager openness, joined with careful examination against Scripture, is the noble way to receive teaching. Help me cultivate that combination, for I can err toward either extreme. I can be closed and resistant, unwilling to receive; or uncritically gullible, accepting whatever I am told without testing it. But the Bereans were both eager and examining: open to receive the word, yet testing it against Scripture. When I hear teaching, help me be like the Bereans: eager to receive what is good, open and teachable, yet examining it against Scripture to see whether it is true. Keep me from being closed and resistant, unwilling to learn; and from being gullible, accepting whatever I am told without testing. Help me receive teaching eagerly, but examine it against Scripture, as the Bereans examined the Scriptures daily. Make me teachable and discerning together, Lord, eager to receive the truth yet careful to test it against your word. Help me be a noble Berean.