inhabitants. At the time of the Apostle's visit, there were sufficient Jews among the

population to justify a synagogue, and it was of these Jews that the term "more noble"

was used.

Light is thrown upon the choice of Berea and the withdrawal by night, by some words

of Cicero addressed to a prefect of Macedonia whose maladministration had exasperated

the people:

The word eugenes, "noble" is used in  Acts 17:  in a figurative sense, and

approximates to the Latin "ingenuus". The word is used in our own language in the form

"ingenuous", meaning noble in character, generous, honourable, straightforward. The

ingenuous character of the Bereans was manifested in their attitude towards the Apostle's

teaching and the Scriptures. Eugenes also occurs in Luke 19: 12, and I Cor. 1: 26.

"Readiness of mind" here is prothumia, and occurs also in II Cor. 8: 11, 12, 19;

9: 2, and Rom. 1: 15.  The "readiness" of the Bereans did not indicate any lack of

critical faculty. They received readily, but they also searched daily to see whether the

things so readily received "were so". This magazine was entitled The Berean Expositor

with this in mind. However strongly convinced the writer of its articles may be as to their

truth, it is nevertheless our sincere hope that these articles will be placed side by side with

the Scriptures, to see whether what is stated is, in fact, true.

In verse 12 we read that, as a result of the Apostle's ministry, "many of them

believed", which is in contrast with the "some" who believed in Thessalonica

(Acts 17: 4, 12).

The Apostle, however, was not long left undisturbed. The Jews at Thessalonica

obtained knowledge of his activities at Berea and traveled the 57 miles that intervened.

The Apostle reveals in I Thess. 2: 17, 18, that he had hoped to have been absent from

Thessalonica for but a "short time", and had indeed attempted to return "once and again",

but, as he says, "Satan hindered us". Sad words indeed for Paul to write of the zeal

displayed by his kinsmen according to the flesh.

It had become evident by now that Paul was the object of this Jewish rage, and so,

leaving some behind to establish the little company in the faith, once more, as a fugitive,

the Apostle is "sent away as it were to the sea". There is no need to interpret Hos epi ten

thalassan as though it implied that the Apostle merely made a feint of going to the sea,

and then turned inland. Winer gives a number of references to the classics to show that

Hos epi denotes intention. From some point on the coast a suitable vessel was found, and

we read that "they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens"

Paul's experiences in the Greek city of Thessalonica, and his encouraging interval at

Berea, would be helpful preparation for his witness in Athens, the metropolis of the