Wednesday, April 14, 2010

seeking eagerly

Good morning friends,
After the uproar in Thessalonica Paul and the others move on to Beroea, where they find a warmer welcome. One of the lines that sticks out to me here is that the good reception for them is that their hearers "Searched the scriptures to see if these things were true." In other words, a good first response to the good news is to examine and see if it fits the scriptures, not "blind" faith. After that diligent search, many Jewish and Greek people did believe.

Unfortunately, even though the reception was friendly and open, opposition followed from the leaders of Thessalonica. Paul is hurried out of the city and taken on to Athens. He waits there for the rest of his team, but as we'll see tomorrow, he doesn't wait passively. I pray the eagerness of the Beroeans for the scripture would touch us as well.

Blessings,
Sam

Acts 17:10-15
10That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so. 12Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing. 13But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds. 14Then the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind. 15Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him.

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