Heavenly Father Gives Us a Shining Example:

The account of the Bereans recorded in Acts shows one group of people that put all of these principles together.  The Bereans were a group of Jews living in Macedonia.  One day a fellow Jew, claiming to be an apostle of God, started speaking at their synagogue.  His message was unfamiliar to many and contradicted the teachings of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.  What were the Bereans to do?  Should they act as many of the Thessalonian Jews had and reject this new message out of envy and run this man out of town?  Acts 17:1-10.

No, the Bereans had a better way.  They were motivated not out of envy but by a desire to please their God.  So they did it his way.  They tested Paul to see if he was from God by examining him in the light of God’s already revealed scripture.  If the man was found false they would still be able to run him out of town.  But as we know, they found that his words, his fruits; were good.  And many Bereans put their faith in the message of Jesus Christ’s life and death.

Acts 17:11: 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.

What was Paul’s reaction to being tested by the Bereans, for having his legitimacy brought into question?  Paul complimented these people for following God’s way.

It is important to recognize that Heavenly Father chose to have the Holy Spirit inspire this story to be written as part of his Holy Word.  By doing so he is holding the Bereans up as an example for us.