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Acts 17:10-14 - Berea
1. Acts 17:10-14 - Berea
Here we pick up from
Acts 17:5-9 - Jason where Paul encounters opposition in Thessalonica and Jason is selected by that opposition to persecute.
Paul and Silas are sent to Berea.
Paul then did what was his "
custom". What was his custom?
2. Acts 17:10
KJV: And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
Greek: οι δε αδελφοι ευθεως δια της νυκτος εξεπεμψαν τον τε παυλον και τον σιλαν εις βεροιαν οιτινες παραγενομενοι εις την συναγωγην των ιουδαιων απηεσαν
Latin: fratres vero confestim per noctem dimiserunt Paulum et Silam in Beroeam qui cum advenissent in synagogam Iudaeorum introierunt
Wycliffe: And anoon bi niyt britheren leten Silas go in to Beroan. And whanne thei camen thidur, thei entriden in to the synagoge of the Jewis.
Luther: Die Brüder aber fertigten alsobald ab bei der Nacht Paulus und Silas gen Beröa. Da sie dahinkamen, gingen sie in die Judenschule.
Russian: Братия же немедленно ночью отправили Павла и Силу в Верию, куда они прибыв, пошли в синагогу Иудейскую.
Spanish: Y de inmediato los hermanos, enviaron de noche a Pablo y a Silas a Berea; los cuales habiendo llegado, entraron en la sinagoga de los judíos.
3. Berea College
From the Berea College website at
https://www.berea.edu.
Berea College isn’t like most other colleges. It was founded in 1855 by a Presbyterian minister who was an abolitionist. It was the first integrated, co-educational college in the South. And it has not charged students tuition since 1892. Every student on campus works, and its labor program is like work-study on steroids. —Adam Harris, The Atlantic
4. Acts 17:11
KJV: 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.
Greek: ουτοι δε ησαν ευγενεστεροι των εν θεσσαλονικη οιτινες εδεξαντο τον λογον μετα πασης προθυμιας το καθ ημεραν ανακρινοντες τας γραφας ει εχοι ταυτα ουτως
Latin: hii autem erant nobiliores eorum qui sunt Thessalonicae qui susceperunt verbum cum omni aviditate cotidie scrutantes scripturas si haec ita se haberent
Wycliffe: But these weren the worthier of hem that ben at Thessolonik, whiche resseyueden the word with al desire, eche dai sekinge scripturis, if these thingis hadden hem so.
What did the people of Berea do that is critically important to discerning the truth of what is being said?
5. Search the scriptures
Do you "
search the scriptures" daily? How often do you "
search the scriptures"? To be more precise, you should "
discern the scriptures".
The ancient Greek word
"ανακρινω" ≈ "discern" from the following.
The ancient Greek prefix "ανα" ≈ "re-" as in again or above (in a higher sense).
The ancient Greek word "κρίνω" ≈ "separate, discern" where one narrowed meaning is that of judging but only in a discerning sense of separating good from bad, truth from fiction, guilty from innocent, etc.
6. Bible app
I use an Android phone app (that I created) to "
search the scriptures" in multiple ancient translations of the Bible. I can do this as the pastor is speaking, checking many Bible translations over time to see how they have changed, etc.
7. My current preferred translations
original Greek, Hebrew
Latin Vulgate (3rd century), modern Spanish
Gothic (4th century)
Old Church Slavonic (5th century), modern Russian
Wessex Gospels (Old English, 10th century)
Wycliffe, Tyndale (Middle English, 16th century)
Luther German (16th century)
King James (18th century)
8. False teachers
There are many verses in the Bible that refer to false teachers telling people what people want to hear rather than what they need to hear.
We have seen and will see some of these warnings as we encounter them.
9. Romans 16 A belly-ache pun on useful Christ-like words
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. [kjv]
οι γαρ τοιουτοι τω κυριω ημων χριστω ου δουλευουσιν αλλα τη εαυτων κοιλια και δια της χρηστολογιας και ευλογιας εξαπατωσιν τας καρδιας των ακακων [gnt]
Near the end of Romans, Paul says that false teachers, to support their "
belly", will use "
useful words" and "
good logic" to deceive the overly-trusting congregation. Paul makes a pun between "
Christ" and "
useful" (words).
The ancient Greek word "χρηστός" ≈ "good, useful".
The ancient Greek word "χριστός" ≈ "anointed one".
In modern Greek these words are pronounced the some.
The modern Greek word "χριστός" (hree-STOS) ≈ "Christ, anointed one" .
The modern Greek word "χρηστός" (hree-STOS) ≈ "useful" where "useful".
In ancient times, there was a small difference in how they sounded.
10. Acts 17:12
Again, as in Thessaloníki, Paul has success in Berea.
Acts 17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. [kjv]
11. Acts 17:12
KJV: Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Greek: πολλοι μεν ουν εξ αυτων επιστευσαν και των ελληνιδων γυναικων των ευσχημονων και ανδρων ουκ ολιγοι
12. Acts 17:13
Acts 17:13 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. [kjv]
Some who are otherwise lazy will go out of their way to impede and hurt others.
In the garden after the Last Supper, the good disciples could not keep awake while Jesus was praying. The enemies of Jesus, planning evil, had no problems keeping up all night long.
Has this ever happened to you?
13. Acts 17:13
KJV: 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.
Greek: ως δε εγνωσαν οι απο της θεσσαλονικης ιουδαιοι οτι και εν τη βεροια κατηγγελη υπο του παυλου ο λογος του θεου ηλθον κακει σαλευοντες και ταρασσοντες τους οχλους
Latin: cum autem cognovissent in Thessalonica Iudaei quia et Beroeae praedicatum est a Paulo verbum Dei venerunt et illuc commoventes et turbantes multitudinem
Wycliffe: But whanne the Jewis in Tessalonyk hadden knowe, that also at Bero the word of God was prechid of Poul, thei camen thidir, mouynge and disturblynge the multitude.
14. Song: Good King Wenceslas - Saint Stephen's Day
Do you ever get tired of doing good? Do you get as tired when not doing good?
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [kjv]
το δε καλον ποιουντες μη ενκακωμεν καιρω γαρ ιδιω θερισομεν μη εκλυομενοι [gnt]
6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. [kjv]
αρα ουν ως καιρον εχωμεν εργαζωμεθα το αγαθον προς παντας μαλιστα δε προς τους οικειους της πιστεως [gnt]
The Greek for "well" "doing" is that of "doing" "good".
The Greek for "weary" is that of "in (doing) bad".
The Greek for "faint" is that of "giving up" and not of getting "weary".
The Christmas song "
Good King Wenceslas", based on the true story from 10th century Bohemia, relates the difficulties of doing good under adverse conditions.
15. Strongs
- *G4531 *15 σαλεύω (sal-yoo'-o) : from G4535; to waver, i.e. agitate, rock, topple or (by implication) destroy; figuratively, to disturb, incite:--move, shake (together), which can(-not) be shaken, stir up.
- σαλευθησονται *3
- Matthew 24:29 ... and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
- Mark 13:25 ... that are in heaven shall be shaken.
- Luke 21:26 ... for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
- σαλευομενον *2
- Matthew 11:7 ... the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
- Luke 7:24 ... the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
- σαλευθηναι *2
- Acts 16:26 ... so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all ...
- 2 Thessalonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, ...
- σεσαλευμενον
- Luke 6:38 ... measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give ...
- σαλευσαι
- Luke 6:48 ... and could not shake it: for it was founded ...
- σαλευθω
- Acts 2:25 ... right hand, that I should not be moved:
- εσαλευθη
- Acts 4:31 ... they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; ...
- σαλευοντες
- Acts 17:13 ... they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
- εσαλευσεν
- Hebrews 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now ...
- σαλευομενων
- Hebrews 12:27 ... signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
- σαλευομενα
- Hebrews 12:27 ... signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
16. Strongs
- *G5015 *0 ταράσσω (tar-as'-so) : of uncertain affinity; to stir or agitate (roil water):--trouble.
- εταραχθη *3
- Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem ...
- Luke 1:12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell ...
- John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, ...
- εταραχθησαν *2
- Matthew 14:26 ... walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; ...
- Mark 6:50 ... saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked ...
- ταρασσεσθω *2
- John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, ...
- John 14:27 ... I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
- εταραξαν *2
- Acts 15:24 ... which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting ...
- Acts 17:8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
- ταρασσοντες *2
- Acts 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge ...
- Galatians 1:7 ... there be some that trouble you, and would ...
- τεταραγμενοι
- Luke 24:38 ... unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts ...
- ταραχθη
- John 5:7 ... man, when the water is troubled, to put me ...
- εταραξεν
- John 11:33 ... groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
- τεταρακται
- John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what ...
- ταρασσων
- Galatians 5:10 ... minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his ...
- ταραχθητε
- 1 Peter 3:14 ... of their terror, neither be troubled;
17. Acts 17:14
KJV: And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
Greek: ευθεως δε τοτε τον παυλον εξαπεστειλαν οι αδελφοι πορευεσθαι ως εως επι την θαλασσαν υπεμενον δε υπεμειναν τε ο τε σιλας και ο τιμοθεος εκει
18. Athens
Paul and Silas will proceed to Athens, one of the main cities in ancient Greece.
Timothy is mentioned as it appears he may have been with Paul during some or all of the time mentioned by the above verses.
19. End of page
