More Noble Character

Acts 17:11: "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

The Apostle Paul had much resistance to His presentation of the gospel in his first and second missionary journeys. In Acts 17, Paul and Silas had just left the large Greek city of Thessalonica, where certain Jewish people "rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city" (17:5). After they had travelled 50 miles to Berea, Paul and Silas went to the Jewish synagogue where they spoke of the Messiah who had come, died on a cross, and was resurrected to pay the penalty for the sins of those who would surrender to Him as Lord.

Paul was impressed with the Bereans for they were eager to hear this message of hope from the apostle, and they poured over the Scriptures to verify what Paul was telling them. The Scripture continues by saying that "many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men" (17:12). What is fascinating is the description that is given to these hearers of the Word . . . they were considered of "more noble character." Notice that God proclaims in His Word that noble character is recognized in those who earnestly seek the Truth by pouring over the Scriptures and responding with surrender to that Truth.

We know that the proclamation of the Word of Truth leads to the hearing of the Word which for some leads to the belief in the Word and ultimately the "calling on" the One that brings salvation, namely Jesus Christ (see Romans 10:14f). May we all be considered of "more noble character" because we search out the Truth of God by saturating our souls with His Word, the Bible; and may we have pliable hearts that receive the truths that the Holy Spirit imparts to us through our pursuit of Him.