Paul was explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, saying, this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ

 Good morning. Paul was explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, saying, this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ. The Jews were looking for, and still are looking for, the arrival of the Messiah. Remember in the movie “fiddler on the roof” that the tailor said, wouldn’t this be a great day for the Messiah to come? Some were persuaded to join Paul and Silas; but the Jews became jealous and took along some wicked men and formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. Attacking the house of Jason (they probably thought that Paul and Silas were staying with him), they were seeking to bring them out to the people. When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some others before the city authorities, shouting, “these men who have upset the world have come here also”. They all act contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. Sounds like the fake news of today, taking a true statement, but twisting it to make it sound like a horrible thing. The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. Of course after this, Paul and Silas were subdued – not! When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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. Of course that is the way that the Jews should’ve been behaving all along. Instead of getting angry at Paul and his companions, they should’ve been checking to see if what they were saying was actually true. And that is what we should be doing today. If someone brings an idea that does not conform to what we have heard, we should search the Scriptures to see if what they are saying is true or not. Instead, people automatically wholeheartedly accept or reject what is being said without any research. Father help us to always seek the truth in Your word, instead of automatically accepting or rejecting what is said.

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