A Berean is one akin to those described in Acts 17:10-15. There we read that these noble Jews “received the word with all eagerness” as they were “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so”. In other words they didn’t simply receive the missionaries words just because they said them, they dug into the Scriptures. But that’s not really the highlight of the passage. What marked the Bereans apart from the Jews in Thessalonica wasn’t merely that they examined the Scriptures.

Okay, a Berean wouldn’t have actually had a pew. And they certainly didn’t have individual copies of complete Bibles. Nor did they have .79 notebooks from the supermarket. But I’m convinced that if you transported a Berean into our 21st century setting they would use their notebooks at the gathered assembly far more than they would use their Bibles.

So, be a good Berean and see if I’m right.

A Berean is one akin to those described in Acts 17:10-15. There we read that these noble Jews “received the word with all eagerness” as they were “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so”. In other words they didn’t simply receive the missionaries words just because they said them, they dug into the Scriptures. But that’s not really the highlight of the passage. What marked the Bereans apart from the Jews in Thessalonica wasn’t merely that they examined the Scriptures. It was that, unlike those in Thessalonica, they eagerly received the Word.

And yet almost every time I read an article or hear a talk on being a good Berean the majority of the focus is on the examining. “Good Bereans examine what is said by the Scriptures.” Yes, absolutely. But good Bereans cannot examine without first eagerly receiving. And that is why I say I believe if these dear saints were transported to the 21st century they’d be delighted not only to have printed Bibles but also those .79 notebooks. They wouldn’t just have tattered pages on their Bibles. They would have leaf upon leaf of paper filled with notes from eagerly receiving the word.

What Luke is highlighting here in the work among the Bereans isn’t simply their faithfulness in fact checking. This isn’t an advertisement for Snopes, it’s an advertisement for the Spirit; the Spirit who opens up blind eyes and creates and eagerness (an excitement) to hear this wonderful news about Jesus. This is what the gospel does. It creates an optimism grounded in love which believes and hopes deeply. The Spirit causes the renewed heart to leap for joy at even bread crumbs left by Jesus.

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