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Paul shows the continuing strategy used in the apostolic era in Berea when he seeks out God-fearing people, both Jews and Gentiles, in the local synagogue. These were people where one would expect to find a greater degree of concern about eternal life. We need to look out for people who may show a similar concern although there is no guarantee that such people are to be found in many of the churches of today.

Having found these people Paul explains the word to them. We are to continually bring people back to the Bible and to make clear its message to them. God will own His word because that word is truth and witnesses to the mission of His beloved Son. We have to be well versed in opening up the word to people that we might encounter. We also see that the Bereans are commended for receiving the word. They were fair minded and showed a readiness to listen. Is this how we receive the word of God as we read it or hear it preached? Finally, they showed their readiness by the way that they searched the Scriptures. We must not grow weary or disinterested but search the Bible each day with a view to applying what we read.