In the book of Acts, we are told of the day when Paul hastily departed Thessalonica under the cover of darkness. He was sent quickly by the brethren in Thessalonica to escape the mob of Jews who were jealous of his success and craving to bring his preaching to a halt. When Paul arrived at Berea, about 50 miles away, he sought out the synagogue (as he had previously done in Thessalonica) and then he did the same in Athens after he departed Berea. His custom was to bring the gospel to the Jew first and then to the Greek.
We read of his Berean encounter in Acts 17:10-11: Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
What a fine compliment Paul pays to the Bereans. Although he had some success in Thessalonica, the Bereans appeared to be more open and receptive to his teaching. An additional compliment is rendered by announcing that they, searched the Scriptures daily to find out if these things were so. It is apparent that a portion of the teaching done by Paul came from the Old Testament. The Bereans demonstrated diligence by studying their scriptures to confirm what Paul was saying.
We at Karns should strive to be more fair-minded than those. Do we study the scriptures daily to see if the lessons we hear are so? If it was somehow possible for Paul to visit us at Karns, would we be worthy of the same compliment as the Bereans?
For the elders, Tony Williams