Paul and Silas in Berea, Acts 17:10-15

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 52

Acts 17:10-15

Paul and Silas in Berea

  1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
  2. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
  3. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
  4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
  5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
  6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
  7. Paul and Silas, while in Thessalonica, were supported by contributions from the fledgling church at Philippi; Paul also worked as a tent-maker. This is from the letter to the Thessalonians.
  8. Upon arrival in Berea, the missionaries head straight for the synagogue, as per Paul’s practice of preaching Jesus to the Jew first and then the Greek. (see Romans 1:16)
  9. The Bereans received the Word (logon) eagerly and examined the Scriptures to learn the truth. Paul was the perfect person to present the prophetic passages to the Jewish people there as well as the Gentile God fearers.
  10. Women of high standing also were present at the synagogue. This was the era of the “new Roman woman,” a period that had developed about 100 years previous. These women of thigh standing were attracted to the high practices and teachings of the Hebrew Scripture.
  11. Word had gotten back to those in Thessalonica who had caused Paul and Silas so much trouble. They are stirred up about the preaching of the Word of God. These were able to cause trouble, which resulted in the necessity of the “brothers” sending Paul away.
  12. “Brothers” would include women, too. Luke does not use the word “sisters” but includes them in the word “brothers.”
  13. The brothers escort Paul all the way to Athens, whether by horse, by foot, or by boat—Luke does not say which.
  14. Paul “commands” that Silas and Timothy join him in Athens.

 

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