What makes a Christian Great?

Acts 17:10-14

Jesus repeatedly instructed his disciples to simply move on if people rejected his word. Luke 10:10-12 sums it up. “But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.”

At Philippi, and in Thessalonica Paul and Silas, led by the spirit simply walked away as Jesus had commanded, when they were asked to leave. How many times do unspiritual people decide they’ll stay despite the opposition, thinking they‘ll prove their faith? Following God’s instructions always produces better results. The church in Thessalonica acted on the Holy Spirit’s direction.

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.” (Acts 17:10)

In Berea was another community of Jews who had established a synagogue. It was an obvious place to look for people who were interested in God. As Paul and Silas quickly learned, the Berean Jews were less interested in preserving Jewish culture than the synagogue in Thessalonica, actually believing their religion.

“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.” (Acts 17:11)

Luke states that the Jews in Berea were greater or better than those in Thessalonica because they were not proud of their knowledge and thus would listen to other ideas. At the same time, they did not just blindly accept every new idea that came along, but researched and compared it with scripture to see if it was valid. Believing that God was the author and it is easy for man to distort the words, whether intentionally or not, they literally applied II Peter 1:20-21. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Paul told Timothy that if we are going to be pleasing to God it will be necessary to study and be sure we are correctly interpreting the Word of God in II Timothy 2:15. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Sadly, in our day, most people equate greatness with conformity to a system, rather than a desire to please God.

“Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.” (Acts 17:12)

Because of their intellectual honesty, many of the Berean Jews received Christ, as well as many of the Greek population, although the men were less receptive than the women, even as is often true today.

“But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.” (Acts 17:13)

Eventually, word spread about Paul and Silas’ preaching in Berea, reaching Thessalonica. Desperate to maintain their culture, with no interest in the actual God they professed to believe in, the Jews from Thessalonica came down to eliminate any changes. They apparently used much the same tactics they’d used at home, creating unrest in the city.

“And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.” (Acts 17:14)

The church sent Paul away, because he was the chief target. His leaving allowed the church there to continue without excessive opposition, and Timothy and Silas remained behind to strengthen or edify the church. It is probable that the book of II Timothy was written during the months that they remained in Berea, to help Timothy to develop his personal spiritual life so.