When the people in Berea heard Paul preach, they sought the Scriptures immediately to test his words. They did this daily. The Scriptures were their source of truth, where they formed their foundation; The Scriptures were the only thing they allowed to form their beliefs.

And what is a very intriguing part about this? They only had the Old Testament Scriptures available to them to put Paul’s preaching up against…so, according to this passage, the Old Testament is nothing less than the foundation to the Gospel message.

[Acts 17.10-15]

17.10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Why does it matter that the early Church did not have the New Testament Scriptures we have today?

+ How does this passage relate to Jesus’ words saying that He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it? [Matthew 5.17]

+ Why did the Jews continue to respond in this way by following the disciples around everywhere?

+ How was there strategy built into the missions of the disciples? What about also a sense of fluidity? [Specifically looking at vv. 14-15]

+ Where in Scripture do we see warnings of deception, false teachers, and the dangers of the culture and the world? Paul himself says in Galatians 1.8:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a Gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”

He knew first hand what the weight was of preaching a false gospel or a blasphemed message of the Messiah, and yet he preached and shared.

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ How do I filter my beliefs and the things I witness in the world?

+ Do I test the Scriptures myself? Or do I fully rely on being fed strictly on Sunday mornings?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?