Chapter 9—Paul at Berea and Athens
At Berea Paul again commenced his work by going into the syn-
agogue of the Jews to preach the gospel of Christ. He says of them,
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they re-
ceived the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures
daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed;
also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.”
In the presentation of the truth, those who honestly desire to be
right will be awakened to a diligent searching of the Scriptures. This
will produce results similar to those that attended the labors of the
apostles in Berea. But those who preach the truth in these days meet
many who are the opposite of the Bereans. They cannot controvert the
doctrine presented to them, yet they manifest the utmost reluctance
to investigate the evidence offered in its favor, and assume that even
if it is the truth it is a matter of little consequence whether or not
they accept it as such. They think that their old faith and customs are
good enough for them. But the Lord, who sent out his ambassadors
with a message to the world, will hold the people responsible for the
manner in which they treat the words of his servants. God will judge
all according to the light which has been presented to them, whether it
is plain to them or not. It is their duty to investigate as did the Bereans.
The Lord says through the prophet Hosea: “My people are destroyed
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for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will
also reject thee.”
The minds of the Bereans were not narrowed by prejudice, and
they were willing to investigate and receive the truths preached by the
apostles. If the people of our time would follow the example of the
noble Bereans, in searching the Scriptures daily, and in comparing the
messages brought to them with what is there recorded, there would be
thousands loyal to God’s law where there is one today. But many who
profess to love God have no desire to change from error to truth, and
they cling to the pleasing fables of the last days. Error blinds the mind
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