12. “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.”
How lovely to see that the source and foundation of Paul’s “reasoning” was the divine, unchangeable Word of God—not the puny mind of man. His reasoning was far different from the great reasoning that the unbelieving Jews had among themselves in Acts 28:2929And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. (Acts 28:29) concerning Paul’s message to them.
Faith in the Word of God gives assurance, but man’s wisdom can never find out God’s truth, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God . . . neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:1414But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)).
What is the guiding principle upon which we preach Christ and defend our faith—“what saith the Scripture” or the “enticing words of man’s wisdom”?
3. “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.”
A suffering, dying and risen Messiah who was Jesus of Nazareth—this was the intense, personal message of Paul to the Jews. May that same fervent spirit characterize our communications as believers!
4. “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.”
Only the reality of faith in Christ (not religion or position in society) can bring a real change of heart. In the western world, especially in North America, there is a danger of placing emphasis on being religious, being successful, and being popular, seeking to make the gospel of Christ more acceptable by connecting and mixing it with those things.
5. “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.”
How religious flesh hates to be denied when the Spirit acts! The Jews saw their numbers (even among the “devout Greeks” and “the chief women” ) dwindle. Realizing they had lost the upper classes of society as effective tools of hostility towards the gospel of Christ, they unite with the lowest rabble—a part of society from which they would normally separate.
Though we see the Jews’ guilt in their awful spirit, what about our own spirits? Do we become jealous or even openly oppose the efforts and energies of those who are being used to bring lost souls to Christ through ways with which we may not agree? Let us be careful of our spirits!
6. “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.”
What a confession of the power of the gospel comes from these haters of the name of Jesus! They had done their best to destroy (Matt. 27:2020But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. (Matthew 27:20)), to hide (Matt. 28:11-1511Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. (Matthew 28:11‑15)), and to stamp out (Acts 8:11And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8:1)) that way. But now, according to their very own admission, the followers of Jesus had changed the world!
Christians—pilgrims and strangers—are not here to change this present evil world by becoming involved in its politics. But we individually and the church collectively ought to bear testimony to our rejected, risen Head in glory. In the measure a believer walks in love for the Lord Jesus and faithfulness to Him, the world will be positively impacted—turned upside down—by his walk.
7. “Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.”
The human heart’s deceitfulness is strikingly displayed by the guile and hostility of the Jews’ twisted accusations against Paul. They knew that calling into question Caesar’s supreme authority would cause an uproar among the Greeks, arousing the patriotic fervor of Caesar’s citizens. Yet the Jews truly hated Caesar and His domination over their nation almost as much as they hated Christianity.
Let us never act in a spirit which would use this world or its political systems to seek to gain that for which God would have us depend upon Him alone.
8-9. “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 others, they let them go.”
Dear Jason and the others who had been saved in Thessalonica learned a lesson that each believer who desires to walk in fellowship with the Lord must learn: The truth costs (Prov. 23:2323Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23); 2 Tim. 3:1212Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)). Oh! to be willing to pay the price of holding fast the truth of God against all the attacks of the enemy.
10. “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.”
The night was not only the time when, to avoid further confrontation, Paul and Silas left, but it also described the Jews’ moral condition—as it does for those today who reject the truth in Christ. It has been said, “Light rejected brings night.” May we ever walk in the light of the truth of God.
11. “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.”
This remarkable commendation of the Spirit—“more noble”—was not due to the Bereans’ social or financial status. They are commended because, for them, the Word of God was the ultimate and final judge of all—even the message of an apostle of Jesus Christ. May we too allow the Word of God always to be the final judge and guide for every detail of life. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psa. 119:1111Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11)).
12-13. “Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable 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.”
Should we be surprised that when the Spirit of God blesses (individual souls, families, our marriages, or in the assembly), the enemy immediately sends his agents to stop the blessing? Knowing this should not discourage our hearts in any little service the Lord has entrusted to us. “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. . . . The Lord thy God is with thee” (Josh. 1:99Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)).
14. “And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.”
The ways of our God are past finding out! The enemy seemed to succeed in getting rid of Paul. But faithful men remained to strengthen the Berean believers. May we individually morally answer to faithful men while praying that God will be pleased to raise up such for the blessing of His church.
Ed.