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THE KING’S BUSINESS
is most likely to render his whole duty to human authority. vs. 8 , 9. “ And they troubled the people (multitude), and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when they had taken security of (from) Jason, and of the others (rest), they let him go.” God did not permit the persecution at this time to go very far. The converts were youhg and God will not suffer any of His children to be tempted above what they are able to bèar (1 Cor. 10:13, R, V.). As we learn from Paul’s Epistle to the Thessalônians, the converts proved true under persecution. While they were young converts they were genuine converts, and though they were persecuted of men they rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 1:6). v. 10. . "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea (Beroea) : who coming thither, went into the synagogue of the Jews.” It was ri' 6 't an act of cowardice on the part of Paul and Silas to leave Thessalonica at this time, it was simply prudence, and they were acting in accordance with the specific directions Christ Himself had given (Matt. 10:23). The church did not go to pieces u_pqn the departure of Paul (1 Thessf 1:3-6),'nor did Paul lose his interest in the converts whom he left behind' (1 Thess. 2 :18, 19; 3:1, 2, 5-7). The plan of Satan and his'-ëmissaries to silence Paul and Silas failed) for driving them out of' Thessalonica simply extended their tes timony to other places. Here again God made the wrath of men to praise Him (Ps. 76:10); As soon as Paul and Silas reached Bereaj regardless, of the fact of what they had suffered for preaching in Thessalonica, they began at once preaching again and to the Jews at that. No matter how Paul and Silas might be treated in one place, the next town they struck they always went at preaching again (cf. 1 Thess. 2:2; Acts 14:5-7). Most of us, if we had suffered as Paul and Silas for preaching the truth, would have been silent, or more judicious for a while at least, v. 11. “(Add, Now) these were more
noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched (examining) the Scriptures daily, whether those (these) things were so.” Here we meet men whom God pronounced noble. Their patent to nobility consisted in the fact that they were eager to know the truth, but scrupu lously careful in finding out what the truth was as tested by the Word. Certainly no one ever had a better patent to true nobility than these Bereans. Note carefully the two things in which their nobility man ifested itself: (1) “They received the Word with -all readiness of mind” (cf. Job'23:12; Jer. 15:16; ch. 2:41). When they knew a thing really was the truth of God as revealed in His Word they needed no urging to accept it, they received it at once with glad alacrity. They opened their mouths wide to receive what God had to give. Some people receive the truth when you compel them to : real lovers of the truth are hungry for it. The Word of God thus received brings salvation and blessing (Jas. 1:21; 1 Peter 2:2). Woe to the one who does not receive it ( 2 Thess. 2:10-12). (2) “They searched (or examined) the Scriptures daily whether these things were so.” While they were ready to receive the truth, they insisted on being sure that . what was taught them was the truth, that they had the mind of God about it, and they took -the Scrip tures as the only final, authority. They were model Bible students in five respects: ( 1 ) They studied the Scriptures “as the Word of God” (cf. 1 Thess. 2 :13). (2) They studied the Scriptures themselves, not merely what some one had to say about the Scriptures ( they were independent stu dents of the Word, independent of men but dependent upon God. (3) They " examined” the Scriptures: there was no superficial scurrying over, the Scriptures, but a careful examination of them, com paring Scripture with Scripture, a . deter mined attempt to find out exactly what they taught and all they taught. (4) .They were systematic and regular in their study.
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