The apostle Paul and Silas had left Thessalonica under cover of night due to the uproar caused by the unbelieving Jews of that city. Satan had again succeeded in disrupting a church. Arriving at Berea they immediately went into the synagogue of the Jews and began preaching Christ. Acts 17:11 tells us that the Jews there “were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica.” So much more that they “received with all readiness” the word they were hearing “and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Scriptures from New King James Version).

In this manner, the Holy Spirit recorded for all time this occasion and it is set out as an example for all who read it in a like frame of mind as the Bereans and who will, likewise, search the Scriptures to confirm what they learn. This example cannot be upheld too highly for readers of today.

The Bereans were not like the majority of listeners today who accept what they hear without question or without comparing what they hear with the Scriptures. That they were able to confirm what they heard by Scripture is evidence that what they heard was the truth, attested to by the prophetic Scriptures concerning Christ.

Scripture does not contradict Scripture. A thing may “seemingly” be a contradiction but there is an explanation in Scripture for which we should search. The fact that the writers of Scripture were inspired by the Holy Spirit assures us that they wrote nothing that is a contradiction in God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16). But, we can likewise be assured that when teachers or preachers add to, take from, or change what God has said, there is a definite contradiction. This can be done without intention, because of a lack of knowledge, but when it is done knowingly (and defended), you need to take note and reject that teaching. Too often the warnings of the Scriptures such as Galatians 1:8, 9 are overlooked or discounted.

Acts 17:12 tells us that as of a result of being able to confirm what they heard by the Scriptures, many of the Jews believed and also more than a few of the prominent Greeks, both men and women. They had God given, inspired evidence (knowledge), to base their belief on, which evidence is presented in the New Testament Scriptures that we too might believe.

As was noted in a recent lesson in my article “From The Preacher’s Desk.” the words “believe,” “believed,” ”confess,” “repentance,” and “baptism,” are all used as figures of speech (a synecdoche), in which a part is given for the whole in the plan of salvation. “Believed,” in verse 12, is so used again here. They heard the word, believed it and obeyed it. See also Acts 2:37-41.