Chapter
Verse

Acts 17:10

ESV The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
NIV As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.
NASB The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
CSB As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
NLT That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.
KJV And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
NKJV Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

What does Acts 17:10 mean?

A consistent rhythm has developed in Paul's evangelism. He enters a new town and finds the Jewish synagogue. After spending several weeks clarifying the prophecies about the Messiah and showing how Jesus of Nazareth fits those prophecies, many of the God-fearing Gentiles and some of the Jews believe him. Others of the Jews grow jealous of his following and first push him out of the synagogue and then the city.

So it is that Jews have threatened a riot in Thessalonica and the church members there have sent Paul and Silas to Berea (Acts 17:1–9). In the Berean synagogue, however, Paul finds something new: people who diligently study the Scriptures to determine for themselves if his message is true (Acts 17:11).

Jewish synagogues were developed during or after the Babylonian captivity when the temple was destroyed but the people knew they needed to follow the Mosaic law more carefully. Typically, the ruler of the synagogue would choose others to perform the parts of the service. One man would recite prayers, others would read from the Law and Prophets, another would interpret if the congregation wasn't fluent in Hebrew, yet another would give a sermon. Often, the synagogue ruler would choose a traveling teacher to give the sermon; he would provide a fresh perspective the synagogue members could discuss.

The Bereans are still held as an example to the church to determine of a preacher teaches truth (1 John 4:1), but they are not mentioned again in the Bible—not even when Paul returns to Macedonia (Acts 20:1).
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