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Commentaries
English
Acts
  
6. The Founding of the Church in Berea (Acts 17:10-15)
10Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.11These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.12Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.14Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.15So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.


Paul went from one city to another for Christ. His life was a chain of troubles, and except in regard to some accidental exceptions, each link of this chain was similar to the other. It was his custom to pray with his companions and then enter into cities, preferring capitals to villages. He first looked for a synagogue of the Jews, since it was always his manner to begin his witness with the people of the old covenant. He wanted to first offer them the Gospel, proclaiming to them the crucified and living Jesus. They, for their part, examined his new doctrine in the light of the Scriptures and the Prophets. Some of them believed, particularly among the educated Gentiles, who enthusiastically accepted the power of the new doctrine.
The Jews became angry, and were not pleased at the thought of a meek Lamb of God. They wanted a dominant, political Christ, whose kingdom is built upon the law. Therefore, fires of disagreement, hatred, persecution, torture, threats of painful death, followed by banishment and endless flight arose. What remained in the city of the apostle’s service was a small, living Christian assembly, one that recognized and believed that Christ was Jesus of Nazareth, who imparts to His followers the life of God through the Holy Spirit. These new churches frequently suffered persecution after Paul had been violently driven away, as the text of the Epistle to the Thessalonians relates (1 Thessalonians 2: 14; 3: 1- 4; 2 Thessalonians 1: 4).
The brothers at Thessalonica accompanied Paul to a small city named Berea, some 70 kilometers west of Thessalonica, supposing he would be more secure there than in the big cities. But Paul was not fearful in regard to his own security. His heart burned with a passion for Jesus, whose true glory he had seen. His love for the Gentiles compelled him to preach salvation, that many might be saved.
The Jews at Berea were more fair-minded than those at Thessalonica, and were prepared to listen to the new teaching. They searched the old books, and some gained through this deep enquiry everlasting life. Along with many who lived among them, they longed for a message which would comfort their hearts. This is a typical method of preaching. It is, however, not the only method to bring people to Jesus. He who longingly penetrates deep into the word of God experiences the word´s working in him, creating purification, justification, love, sanctification, a boldness to testify, along with an expectation of the coming of Christ. Dear brother, overcome your weariness and reluctance. Vanquish the opposition in yourself toward the word of God. Fill your heart with the words of Christ. You will then become a happy man, appearing like a fountain of God´s love amid your surroundings. The thoughts and activity of the Spirit within you will begin to flow from you.
Paul’s preaching gave rise to mixed churches of Jewish and Gentile Christians, churches in which divisions continued to prevail among peoples and cultures, between east and west. The love of Christ is the triumphant power in all believers. But because the growth of this spiritual triumph became an injurious thorn in the eye of Satan, the latter made every effort to destroy the churches from both within and without. Fanatical Jews came from Thessalonica, who, enflamed with rage, shook up the young converts with their lies. They desired to see this fellowship of love blown apart, so that they might persecute Paul all the more violently.
But before this intrusion could boil up into an explosion, a gentle, peaceful spirit began manifesting itself among these men. Believers accompanied Paul to the sea, a distance of 40 kilometers, and there they placed him quickly onto a ship, so that the evil intent of the hate-filled might not fall upon the apostle. Paul had come alone to Berea, leaving his company in Thessalonica to strengthen the church. Now, he left Berea alone, on his way to Athens, the world’s most famous intellectual center and the rendezvous of philosophers and scholars. In that great city men freely indulged themselves in the pride and superficiality of life. Athenians believed they could probe into all the mysteries of the world with their minds. They did not, however, know the Holy Spirit of the living Lord, who had been raised from the dead.
Paul was neither ashamed nor afraid to show his face among the philosophers of Athens. He felt he was entering into a long turmoil, one which would plague the church continuously throughout her history, enduring for more than a thousand years. Philosophy without God and the message of the gospel is like comparing light and darkness, heaven and hell, divine inspiration and devilish insinuation. Paul did not want to enter all by himself into this foremost war with the spirits. He knew for certain he was not a genius, but a member of the body of Christ. He asked Silas and Timothy, his fellow-laborers, to come immediately from Thessalonica to Athens. Thus Paul sought the assistance of his companions in wrestling with unclean spirits, just as Jesus had asked His disciples in Gethsemane to watch and pray with Him. As the Lord Jesus had to undergo this battle alone and to drink the cup of the wrath of God alone, likewise, Paul had to travel to Athens alone. There he would have to bear the mockery of the thinkers and philosophers, the contempt of the people and their human wisdom.

Prayer
We thank You, our Lord Christ, because You encouraged and challenged Paul, time after time, not to care about persecutions and sufferings, but to glorify Your holy name. Purify us, O Lord, for Thy service, and fill us with the motive of Your love, so that we may not fear any body, spirit, or doctrine, but preach Your salvation to all those who long for You.
Question
What was Paul’s custom in preaching when he entered a city?