And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (Acts 17:10-12) Before we embark on a discussion of why these were “more noble,” we need to decide who the “these” are. It is evident from verse 10 that the “these” are Jews who were living in Berea. We have more information, however, as to why the people that were “more noble” were Jews. When Paul would go into a new area, he would first teach the Jews in the city before going to the Gentiles. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Why were these Jews from Berea more noble? The answer is in verse 11. They received with all readiness of mind and they searched the scriptures daily. Readiness The words “readiness of mind” indicate zeal and eagerness. These Jews were not close-minded people. They were willing to humble themselves and accept the hard truth that there may be more to the Scriptures than they had realized. They understood the

4, 8, 19, 27, 34, 10. Do those numbers mean anything to you? What about $1.6 billion? Perhaps that one will ring a bell. Those are the winning numbers and the dollar amount for the “Powerball” lottery that have been filling up every news channel this past week. We probably have friends who drove to Georgia in hopes of winning that prize. If only the people in our community and around the country would flock in that manner and with that enthusiasm to a place where there are guaranteed winnings – the kingdom of God! Speaking of earthly treasures, Solomon said: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:8-11). Solomon had way more riches than what the lottery could offer,

What, if any, was the significance to Christianity of the setting up of Israel in 1948? If there was no significance, why? A lot of individuals (particularly premillennialists) teach that the setting up of the political state of Israel in 1948 was an important steppingstone in the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). However, those who hold such a view fail to realize that the apostles said that very thing was being done in their day through their inspired preaching! The result of that work is the church (Acts 2:47)! Notice this prophecy from Isaiah. “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). Does this seem familiar? “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:46-47). [Editor’s Note: There are innumerable references in both testaments of the Bible that identify the promised kingdom of God with the

When Jesus was born, He was visited by wise men. Before they came to Him, however, they were instructed by Herod to reveal the location of the Messiah once they found Him (Matthew 2:7-8). However, they were warned of God to not return to Herod (Matthew 2:12). This caused Herod to go into a rage, and so he ordered the death of every male child two-years-old and younger that was living in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16). Miraculously, God had warned that danger was coming so that Joseph took the family down to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). Matthew then said that Herod, in ordering the execution of the children, fulfilled a prophecy by Jeremiah. “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not” (Matthew 2:17-18; Jeremiah 31:15). This quotation and application of Jeremiah’s prophecy has caused scholars, both liberal and conservative, a world of trouble. “St. Matthew, who is ever fond of accommodation, applies these words, Mat 2:17, Mat 2:18, to the massacre of the children at Bethlehem. That is, they were suitable to that occasion, and therefore he so applied them; but they are not a prediction of that event” (Adam Clarke). “Matthew does not mean that Jeremiah predicted the slaughter at Bethlehem; but that his words, though spoken as to another occasion, were so chosen of the Spirit that they might

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:12). Paul commanded Titus that he should live soberly. What does it mean to live soberly? Webster defines “soberly” as “without intemperance, without enthusiasm, without intemperate passion; coolly; calmly; moderately, gravely; seriously.” While these definitions are good, Paul was actually painting a more colorful picture as to how we are to live. From the immediate context we can see that to live “soberly, righteously, and godly” is preferred to living ungodly with cares for worldly lusts. When we venture into the Greek, we can learn a little more information about what it means to live soberly. The Greek word translated “soberly” in the KJV is “sophronos.” Though this word is only found once in its adverb form, it can be found used in other parts of speech. One of those examples in found in Luke 8:26-36 (verse 35 in particular). And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (For he had

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:16-21) Too often people try to interpret passages from a 21st century mindset, and they forget to put on their first century glasses. Due to this, many use this passage to promote the idea that simply calling out Jesus’ name will immediately place them into Christ. This logic is flawed, however, when we see how those that heard this sermon reacted. “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for

Why should we Christians in the 21st century worry about a section of the Bible that deals with the history, laws and promises of a nation that is no longer in existence? After all, one may say, the Old Testament passed away 20 centuries ago! “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law” (Hebrews 7:12). Even though it is true that the Old Law was taken out of the way, the New Testament gives us plenty of reasons and motives to study the Old Testament. We must look to those first 39 books of the Bible in order to have a better understanding of Jesus, a greater knowledge of the promises mentioned in the New Testament and to have a firmer grasp on New Testament teaching. The Old Testament can give us a better understanding of Who Jesus is and what His role is and was. Some premillennialists – such as Thomas Ice – do not openly teach (in fact, they deny the accusation) that Jesus’ death was “plan B,” but their writings concerning the purpose of His death and the church certainly give off that impression. Teachings like this come about by a misunderstanding of the Old Testament and the purpose of God’s eternal scheme of redemption. When we peer into the Old Testament Scriptures through the assistance of the New Testament, we see that it was God’s plan all along for Jesus to die in order that both Jews and