As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. (Acts 17:10-15)
Luke describes the Berean Jews as noble, people of excellence belonging to God’s kingdom. They were noble because they received the message of Jesus and believed, they were greatly eager, they examined the Scriptures every day, they didn’t stir up crowds by means of agitation, and they didn’t harass people.
If we want to be people of excellence, we too must study the Scriptures. There’s a fine line between loving and being a doormat and between exercising freedom and interfering with the liberty of others. The Bible teaches us how to have a personal relationship with Jesus and how to know when we’re following His will. It helps us know when to love people and when to leave. Paul knew it was God’s will for Silas and Timothy to build the church in Berea, so he was free to leave.
Father God, I praise You for the Bible and hearing me when I pray. Help me be noble, loving, and to follow your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
According to the dictionary the definition of noble is being of high social or political class, aristocratic. Or, having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals. When I think of noble, nobility, I think of the first definition more than the second. When I think of the second definition, as used in the Bible, I used words like honorable, upstanding and honest. How can the same word have two such different meanings. When I think of noble/nobility I think of pretentious and pompous. And then there is the word used in the Bible, it’s so much better because I think of solid character, good person, loving, truthful, trustworthy, decent and the list of words could go on and on.
Heavenly Father help me to be noble, honest, trustworthy and loving. Help me to have a close and personal personal relationship with Jesus. Amen
It is so sad that nobility has two such different meanings. God intends for nobility to be noble in the honorable, upstanding, and honest way.