What does Acts 17:14 mean?
After encouraging the churches Paul had planted with Barnabas in modern-day Asia Minor, planting a church with Lydia, a Gentile woman, in Philippi, and having a more typical mixed reaction in Thessalonica, Paul, Silas, and Timothy have likely found Berea to be refreshing. The Jews of the synagogue don't split between those who believe Jesus is the Messiah and those who fear losing their social status. The entire synagogue studies the Old Testament prophets. They peacefully respond based on their convictions (Acts 17:10–12).Unfortunately, Berea is only 45 miles, or 72 kilometers, from Thessalonica, where Jews reacted more violently to the team's ministry. When Paul preached in Thessalonica several from the synagogue believed him, but some Jews grew jealous of his following. When they couldn't find Paul and his team, they attacked Jason, their host (Acts 17:1–9). Now, these same Jews have followed the team to Berea (Acts 17:13). For the team to stay is dangerous. Leaders of Roman cities were expected to keep the peace; to allow chaos would threaten their jobs. The worship of Jesus wasn't strictly legal; as God, He was not authorized by the Roman Empire and as King He threatened the Emperor. If the church in Berea gets enough negative attention, the city government could turn against them.
We're not told why Silas and Timothy stay behind. When Paul arrives in Athens, he sends word for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible (Acts 17:15). Before they can get to Athens, he apparently sends Timothy to Thessalonica because he is worried about the church there (1 Thessalonians 3:1–2, 6), and he sends Silas somewhere else. They don't join Paul until he's been in Corinth for a while (Acts 18:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:6).
Acts 17:10–15 introduces a church which becomes an example for all of Christianity: the Bereans. The jealous Jews of Thessalonica have driven Paul and Silas out of town by threatening the church members. Not willing to face more persecution than necessary, the church send the two to Berea. When the evangelists explain how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, the Bereans respond with a form of cautious skepticism. They study those prophecies, checking Paul's message for accuracy, and find he's right. Unfortunately, the Jews from Thessalonica follow and cause such problems that the new Berean church sends Paul away to Athens.
Acts 17 describes how Paul's ministry travels down the coast of Greece. In Thessalonica, some Jews and God-fearing Gentiles believe while other Jews start a riot (Acts 17:1–9). The Bereans study the veracity of Paul's statements—until the Thessalonian Jews arrive and threaten to start another riot (Acts 17:10–15). Paul flees to Athens where the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers accept Paul's argument when he uses Greek poets to introduce God as the creator of the world, but lose interest when he mentions the resurrection from the dead (Acts 17:16–34).
