And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. (11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (12) Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (13) But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. (14) And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timothy abode there still. (15) And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
I admire the scripture sense of nobility, in the account here given of the people of Berea. The word of God defines what it is to be truly noble, in both receiving with all readiness of mind the scriptures, and searching them daily. Reader! behold an honorable testimony the Holy Ghost hath himself given to those who do receive, and daily search his sacred word. He saith elsewhere, them that honor me, I will honor: and they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed, 1 Samuel 2:30. Oh! how will the word of God arise in judgment at the last day, to silence in everlasting confusion thousands, in whose houses the Bible indeed may be found, but so little used by them, that their condemnation may be written in letters upon the dust which covers it? Yea, strange to say, but by a contradiction in terms peculiarly known in the present hour, numbers profess great earnestness to send the Bible abroad to others, while thrown aside and never studied by themselves! Oh! ye noble Bereans! I bless God the Holy Ghost for the high honor the Lord of hosts himself hath here conferred upon you, in thus recording your true nobility in the word of his grace, and transmitting it to endless generations of the Church to be noticed by his people!
It may be proper for the Reader to observe, that when the Apostle speaks of the Bereans, as more noble than the people of Thessalonica, is meant the Jews of that place. And the commendation given the one, to the reproach of the other, is wholly in that; while the one searched the scriptures daily, and examined concerning what Paul and his companions said, whether those things were so; the other made no enquiry in the word of God, but condemned their doctrine without seeking any proof. But that this comparison did not refer to the Gentiles in Thessalonica is very certain, for before Paul and Silas left the Thessalonians to go to Berea, we are told, that among the devout Greeks which were believers, there was a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few, Acts 17:4. Indeed the Church planted in Thessalonica before Paul left it, and the two blessed Epistles afterwards sent to it by him, very plainly shew how God the Holy Ghost had opened a door among them for their ministry, and given testimony to their labors by the word of his grace.