Bible Study Lesson for Acts 17:11-15: Paul Visits Berea

(Note: When I taught my Bible study on the Book of Acts I used a flannel map as a visual aid. In my lecture notes you will find reference to this flannel map. The primary commentary I used was Compton's Interactive Bible, a software CD; I sometimes refer to this as my Interactive Bible CD.)

So, Paul and Silas have no choice but to once more sneak out of town. Read Acts 17:10. { Point out Berea on map.} This city is about 50 miles from Thessalonica, in another district of Macedonia. As was Paul's habit, he immediately seeks out the Jewish synagogue to preach there.

Read Acts 17:11. One of my favorite pastors likes this verse and has quoted it multiple times in sermons. He likes the fact that the Bereans don't just listen to Paul, they do their own Bible study to confirm what he is teaching. This is very important and shows a true maturity. Luke here calls them "noble" and of being very eager. These are not lukewarm people. { Put up Berea symbol. Symbol shows that Paul preached in the synagogue and that the Bereans searched the scriptures. }

Read Acts 17:12. Once again there is a positive response and both Jews and Greeks come to Christ. When I did a word search for "Berea" and "Bereans" I was somewhat disappointed that they are not mentioned again besides this passage in Acts. (With one exception, in Acts 20 one of the men listed as traveling with Paul is from Berea.)

But just like with many of the other churches, there is tumult after the positive response, this time from outside instigators. Read Acts 17:13. Now, tell me, doesn't it seem quite bizarre that people would travel 50 miles to start another riot, in another town, just because they were jealous? I can't help thinking that there was some spiritual oppression going on here, that the jealousy was being fed by demonic fires, that people would be willing to go to such extremes!

Read Acts 17:14-15. Apparently Paul was the main focus of the crowd's anger, and it was more important that he be taken to safely right away, over Silas and Timothy. My guess is that it was felt that the Bereans needed more teaching and that they couldn't just leave them completely on their own just yet. The fact that Paul was taken to the coast does not necessarily mean he took a ship to Athens. My commentary tells me that there is a coastal road that leads to Athens, about 20 miles from Berea, and that Paul may have walked the distance. In any event, Christian companions stayed with him until he safely reached Athens.

To be continued...

Sources
Editors. Compton's Interactive Bible (software)
Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford (notes). The Student Bible. NIV Version