The Nugget:
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
My Comment:
Everything should be tried or tested by the Scriptures. Notice that the Berean audience Paul was addressing paid close attention to what Paul was teaching. They did not merely swallow it whole, “hook, line, and sinker.” They took the time and effort daily to search the Scriptures to verify the truth (or check upon the possible falsity) of what Paul taught. Paul the Apostle wrote up to 14 books of the New Testament. He was divinely inspired as he wrote them. Surely he spoke and preached with authority. Were the Berean listeners right or wrong to have the audacity to check up on the message of an Apostle? The answer is that they were right. They are called “more noble than those in Thessalonica” (KJV). Other translations read “much nicer” (CEV, Contemporary English Version); “better disposed” (Williams NT); “more liberal” (Murdock NT); “more open-minded” (NET Bible). The Bereans were praised or commended for checking out the truthfulness of the message of the Apostle Paul. The positive outcome of their searching the Scriptures is expressed in the following verse: “Therefore many of them believed” (Acts 17:12). We should follow their good example and double check on the truthfulness of what we are being taught by comparing the teaching carefully with Scripture. Of course, we should only believe what can be verified in the Bible. Notice particularly that this statement in the Bible proves that the Bible is to be the standard of truth when it comes to verifying the doctrines we believe or are being taught. It also must be the case that it is actually possible for ordinary hearers of preaching and teaching to reliably and definitively determine the truth of what is being taught. And contrary to what some seem to teach today, the original hearers of the Gospel message were literate enough to read the Bible for themselves, and had access to the Bible so they could search it for themselves. The Bereans were not gullible. They did not fall for the religious group that had the slickest propaganda: they carefully checked things out against the Bible. I have no doubt but what we have far easier access to the Bible today than they did. We have Bibles that are divided into chapters and verses for ease of reference. We have concordances to locate words and the verses where they occur quite easily. We have study Bibles with many helpful features. We have access to collections of cross references that make comparing Scripture with Scripture much easier and more fruitful as we study the Bible. We even have Bibles and study tools in digital format. Now with all that firepower, we ought to be able to imitate and surpass the Bereans in our industry to become better acquainted with the teaching of God’s Word.
For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:
(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1250 for Acts 17:11.
(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on pages 1270-1271 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Acts 17:11.
(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:
Acts 17:11. more noble. or, well-born. Gr. eugenēs (S#2104g). High in rank, hence they were more courteous (CB). T#1099. *Ac 13:7. Ge 34:19. 1 Ch 4:9. *Pr 1:5. 9:9. Je 2:21. Lk 19:12g. Jn 1:46-49. 1 Cor 1:26g. Thessalonica. ver. +Ac 17:1. 1 Th 1:1. 2 Tim 4:10. they received. *Ac 2:41. 8:14. 10:33. 11:1. Ne 8:3. +*Jb 23:12. *Pr 2:1-5. **Pr 4:7, 20-22. 8:10. Ec 5:1. Song of Sol 8:2. Je 6:16. *Mt 13:11, 23. Mk 4:8. Lk 10:38, 39. 2 Cor 8:5. 1 Th 1:6. **1 Th 2:13. *2 Th 2:10. **James 1:21. **1 P 2:2. the word. Gr. logos, Mk 9:32n. +Ac 8:4. 10:36. *Lk 16:29. readiness of mind. Ac 10:33. %Ac 14:2. 16:14. %+*1 S 25:17. **Ps 25:9. Mk 12:37. *S#4288g: Ac 17:11. 2 Cor 8:11, 12 (willing mind), 2 Cor 8:19 (ready mind). 2 Cor 9:2 (forwardness). This word is used in the New Testament (1) of a ready desire to hear God’s word, and (2) of a ready desire to give to God’s work (Thomas Walker). and searched. or, examined. Gr. anakrinō, *S#350g. Rendered (1) examine: Ac 4:9. 12:19. 24:8. 28:18. Lk 23:14. 1 Cor 9:3. (2) judge: 1 Cor 2:15, 15. 4:3, 3, 4. 14:24. (3) ask question: 1 Cor 10:25, 27. (4) search: Ac 17:11. (5) discern: **1 Cor 2:14. Thayer defines this word “By looking through a series (ana) of objects or particulars to distinguish (krino) or search after. Hence, to investigate, examine, inquire into, scrutinize, sift, question” (Lexicon, p. 39). Compare “search” at Jn 5:39, the same English but a different Greek word (*S#2045g). T#1069. Le 11:3. 1 Ch 28:8. **Ps 1:2, 3. 119:18, 97-100, *Ps 119:148. Pr 2:2. +*Pr 8:9. *Pr 15:14. +**Is 8:20n. *Is 34:16. *Lk 16:29. *Lk 24:44. *Jn 3:21. +**Jn 5:39n, 40. 1 Cor 2:14g. 1 Tim 4:13. +**2 Tim 3:15-16. *1 P 1:10-12. +*2 P 1:19-21. *1 J 4:5, 6. the scriptures. ver. Ac 17:2. Ac 8:28. 26:22, 23. **Ps 119:105. *Ps 138:2. +*Je 15:16. +*Je 23:18, 22, 28, 29. +Mt 21:42. +*Mk 12:24. +*Ro 15:4. 2 Tim 2:15. daily. Ac 16:5. Ex 16:4. *Dt 17:18-20. +*Jsh 1:8. 2 Ch 8:14. Ezr 3:4. *Ne 8:18. +*Ps 1:2. Pr 8:34. Lk 11:3. +*Lk 21:36. +**Col 1:10. +*He 3:13. *He 11:6. *1 P 2:2. *2 P 3:18. whether. or, if. FS184D1, Lk +22:67. A. T. Robertson notes that the Bereans “were eagerly interested in the new message of Paul and Silas but they wanted to see it for themselves. What a noble attitude. Paul’s preaching made Bible students of them. The duty of private interpretation is thus made plain (Hovey)” (Word Pictures, vol. 3, p. 275). T#1059, T#1121. Ac 8:31n. Dt 13:3. +**Pr 14:15. 15:14. *Pr 18:1n, +*Pr 18:17. +**Is 8:20n. Ezk 14:10n. +*Da 11:30. Ho 6:3. +*Mk 4:24. +*Lk 8:18. Jn 4:42. 7:17. **Ro 14:12. 1 Cor 10:15. +*1 Cor 14:29. *2 Cor 4:2. +*Ga 1:8n, 9. **1 Th 5:21. 1 Tim 4:1. James 1:19. *2 P 3:16, 17. **1 J 4:1.
acts 17.11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for
they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to
see whether these things were so.
encouraging cross refs(the best commentary on the bible is the bible)
1. pro 1.5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of
understanding will acquire wise counsel.
2. pro 9.9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser, teach
a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
3. jn 1.45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found Him of
whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the
son of Joseph.
4. jn 1.46 And Nathaniel said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?
Philip said to him, “Come and see”
5. jn 1.47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an
israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”
6. jn 1.48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and
said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw
you.”
7. jn 1.49 Nathanel answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King
of Israel.
8. ac 2.41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were
added that day about 3000 souls.
9. ac 10.33 And so I sent to immediately, and you have been kind enough to come.
Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that yu have been commanded by the Lord.
10. ac 11.1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that
the Gentiles also received the word of God.
11. job 23.12 “I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the
words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
12. pro 2.1 My son, if you will receive my sayings, and treasure my commandments
within you.
13. pro 2.2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding:
14. pr 2.3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
15. pr 2.4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
16. pr 2.5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord, And discover the knowledge
of God.
17. pr 8.10 “Take my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest
gold.
18. mt. 13.23 “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good ground, this is the
man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth,
some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
19.1 th 1.6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much
tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
20. 2 th 2.13 And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received
from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for
what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
21. 2 th 2.10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because
they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
22. jas 1.21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness,
in humilty receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
23. 1 pe 2.2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may
grow in respect to salvation,
24. psm 1.2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day
and night.
25. psm 119.97 O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.