Noble Character

Acts 17:10-12

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁰ As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.  On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.   ¹¹ Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians,  for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.  ¹² Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:10%20-%2012&version=NIV1984)

Noble, outstanding qualities; that is how the Bereans were described.  How is it that they were more noble?  If we read on we will see the characteristics that set them apart.  In Thessalonica Paul and his companions went into the Synagogue three different Sabbaths and persuaded several Greeks and prominent women but not so many Jews.  In this passage we see that many Jews believed.  It sounds to me like the Jews were the ones lacking noble character when you compare these two passages.  What I found most interesting though regarding the noble character was the statement “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true”.  How often do we listen to a sermon and just expect that it is true without examining it?  Often times we put the person in the pulpit as the “holy one” and forget it is up to us to examine the scriptures for ourselves and make sure what others are telling us is the truth.  Many people have been deceived, even to death, by cults that proclaimed to be of the Lord but was really about control.  The Bereans didn’t just go out and bring people to Paul, it does not even mention them doing so as it has in previous scriptures.  These were the people who examined the words of Paul and made sure what he said was the truth and did it daily not just on the Sabbath.

Years ago we had a Sunday school class in our church called “Bereans.”  Many of those who attended were faithful followers of Christ and they chose their name based on this scripture.  They wanted to study the Word of God and not just in Sunday School, but throughout the week, like the Bereans. This too is how we should approach anything that we are told, we should examine it with scripture to make sure it is the truth and we should do so daily.

As you seek Him it is important to listen to Him through the Scriptures and this should be done daily.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila