In Acts 17:10-34, the Berean Christians expressed a different response to God’s word in that they received His word with readiness of heart. They also took it a step further by searching the scriptures to see whether the things Paul thought were true. Going back to the scriptures after a sermon is worthy of emulation as it further cements the word in our hearts so that it is easier to remember and gain a deep understanding.
In addition, Berea was no different than other cities in the area of persecution of the Apostles. Those Jews that troubled the Apostles found their way to Berea to cause trouble and rouse the people against the Apostles.
This persecution made them flee to Athens, where Paul immediately noticed the widespread practice of idolatry. Paul then proceeds to debate in the synagogue with Jews and in the marketplace with philosophers, including Epicureans and Stoics. He also noticed an idol tagged as the ‘unknown God’ to which he preached to them about the true God. He explained to them that the God they worshipped unknowingly is the true God; however, He does not dwell in such temples, and he urged them to repent. After preaching, some people mocked him, while others, like Dionysius and Damaris, believed.
To this end, today’s reading from Acts 17:10-34 highlights Paul’s approach to preaching the gospel to different audiences. However, in both cases, not minding the approach, Paul preached the undiluted word to men, and many were saved.
Reflection: In carrying out the work of evangelism, start from the place of knowledge of the people you are preaching to and deliver the message in the way they will understand with the help of the Holy Spirit
Today’s reading
Deuteronomy 14-16
“You are the children of the Lord your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead.
For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
“You shall not eat any detestable thing.
Acts 17:10-34
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.