Congregation Book Study, Week of November 4-10, 2024, Chapter 17, paragraphs 13-19, Answers.

Congregation Book Study, November 4-10, 2024, Chapter 17, paragraphs 13-19, Answers.

Congregation Bible Study (30 mins.) bt ch. 17 pars. 13-19.

13, 14. (a) Why did that violent mob fail to stop the preaching? 

The mob was unable to stop the preaching because Paul and Silas went into hiding, and the city leaders were convinced that the accusations were true. In addition, Jason and other brothers posted bail to appease the authorities and were released. So, even though there was opposition, they were able to continue their work elsewhere.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The violent mob failed to stop the preaching in Thessalonica, for one thing, Paul and Silas were not present when the crowd gathered at the house of Jason, who was hosting them. Also, the rulers of the city did not seem convinced that the Jews' accusations were justified. So instead of imprisoning them, they asked Jason and other brothers for bail and then released them. This allowed the preaching work to continue despite the opposition.

In Acts 17:8-9, we see that although the rulers heard the accusations, they were not really convinced that Paul and Silas were a threat. This shows us that even if there are people who oppose our faith, there will always be those who analyze the situation well and do not just go by what they hear.

The mob also failed to stop the preaching because Paul and Silas did not expose themselves. This reminds us that sometimes it is better to avoid conflict in order to continue serving God without problems. Following Paul's example, we do not need to directly confront those who want to harm us, but act prudently to continue preaching.

13, 14. b) How did Paul follow Jesus’ advice, and how can we imitate him?

Paul followed Jesus’ advice to be cautious as a serpent and harmless as a dove. This means that he avoided confronting the violent crowd and left so he could preach somewhere else. We can imitate them by being cautious, avoiding confrontations when possible, and looking for peaceful ways to continue our preaching.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Paul followed Jesus' advice to be cautious as a serpent, but also innocent as a dove, avoiding direct confrontation with the mob and danger in Thessalonica so that he could continue preaching elsewhere. This attitude shows his courage, but also his prudence, since he did not seek unnecessary conflict. 

Today, Christians can imitate this example by avoiding confrontations with hostile people and seeking peaceful ways to continue their ministry, even if this means changing locations or waiting for more favorable circumstances to return and resume preaching.

In Matthew 10:16, Jesus advised to be cautious as serpents and harmless as doves. Paul applied this advice by walking away from conflict rather than confronting the crowd. We too can be cautious and look for ways to avoid confrontation, focusing on continuing our mission of preaching peacefully. By being cautious and not being brave, Paul showed that being brave doesn’t always mean facing problems head on—sometimes being prudent and avoiding conflict is a form of bravery. We can imitate Paul by walking away from situations that could cause us unnecessary trouble and always looking for a way to preach without conflict.

They “were more noble” (Acts 17:10-15)

15. How did the Bereans respond to the message of the good news?

The Bereans responded with a noble attitude, showing great interest in the message, listening attentively and then investigating the scriptures daily to confirm whether what Paul was teaching them was true. Their willingness to learn and verify was an example of sincerity.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

According to Luke, the Jews of Berea accepted the word with great interest, and also carefully examined the scriptures every day to verify the veracity of what Paul was teaching them. 

This willingness to investigate and compare the teachings with the scriptures showed an attitude of respect and diligence toward the word of God. Although the Thessalonians who had accepted the message also demonstrated a good attitude, the Bereans were especially praised, because they not only received the message with interest, but took the initiative to examine it deeply, making sure that what they heard was in harmony with the scriptures.

In Acts 17:10,11 the Bereans listened to Paul with interest and took the time to check everything in the scriptures. This teaches us that we should be open to learning, but always checking  the Bible to make sure that what we hear is correct. 

The attitude of the Bereans was very noble, as they did not accept or reject the message immediately, but investigated it with interest. They teach us that we must take the time to study and check the  Bible to strengthen our faith and avoid being deceived.

16. Why can it be said that the Bereans were very noble?

They are considered noble, because even though the message was new to them, they did not reject it, nor did they accept it blindly, they listened, investigated and made sure that everything matched the scriptures, they did it every day and with a humble attitude, which led many of them to believe in the message.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It can be said that the Bereans were very noble, because even though the message of the good news was something new to them, they had a balanced and thoughtful attitude, they did not react skeptically or critically nor did they accept the message blindly, instead they listened attentively to Paul's teachings and then carefully analyzed the scriptures to verify the truth of what he said. 

Their interest was so sincere that they researched every day, not just on Saturday, showing dedication. This willingness to learn, research and humbly adapt led them to become believers, which highlighted their nobility.

The Bereans not only heard the message, but they studied it every day to make sure it was true. This gives us a good example of dedication, as they were not content with hearing it once, but wanted to be sure that what they believed was backed up by the Bible.

 In Acts 17:12, we see that many Bereans became believers because they investigated with interest. And this teaches us that when we are humble and sincerely seek to learn, our faith is strengthened. Being noble means having an open mind and willingness to learn from God.

17. Why are the Bereans a good example for us, and how can we imitate them even if we have been in the truth for a long time?

The Bereans are a good example, because they were not satisfied with what they heard, they investigated and remained interested. Even if we have been in the truth for a long time, we must continue studying and strengthening our faith, allowing Jehovah to continue molding us to be better Christians.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The Bereans are a good example for us because their willingness to analyze and verify the biblical message reflected a sincere and deep attitude of faith. They not only accepted the message, but they confirmed it through a careful study of the scriptures, which strengthened their faith. We can imitate them by maintaining the same desire to learn and grow spiritually, no matter how long we have been in the truth. This implies continuing to study the Bible with interest and applying what we learn, allowing Jehovah to mold us, thus continuing to be useful tools for him and giving him joy by demonstrating our devotion and willingness to be guided by his word.

The Bereans remind us that even if we have been in the faith for a long time, we can always learn something new. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul pointed out that the believers in Thessalonica accepted God’s word as true guidance, not ideas from men. This motivates us to continue seeking the  Bible ’s advice , no matter how many years we have been studying it.

In Isaiah 64:8, we are told that Jehovah is like a potter, who molds his servants. The Bereans allowed Jehovah to mold them. And we too must have that same disposition, even after a long time in the truth. Let us never stop being humble, nor stop learning, because God always wants to help us improve.

18, 19. (a) Why did Paul leave Berea? What did he continue to do, and how can we imitate him?

Paul left Berea because some Jews from Thessalonica came to stir up trouble. Despite this, he did not stop preaching and continued his work elsewhere. We can imitate his example by continuing our preaching work without being stopped by opposition.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

He left Berea because the Jews from Thessalonica came there to provoke and stir up the crowds, wanting to stop the preaching work. Despite this opposition, Paul continued his work by moving to another place where he could preach without interruption. We can imitate him by keeping our focus on the preaching work by adapting and looking for new opportunities to keep going despite any obstacles.

In Acts 17:13, it is mentioned that the Jews from Thessalonica followed Paul to Berea to stir up the crowds. This shows that the opponents were determined to stop the preaching. However, Paul was not discouraged but continued on. We can imitate his example by not letting opposition discourage us in our work.

Paul was very wise in leaving Berea and continuing to preach in another city. We can imitate him by not confronting those who persecute us, but by looking for alternative places or ways to preach so that nothing stops us.

18, 19. b) What audience awaited him at his next destination?

On his next destination, Athens, Paul would encounter a different audience, the Gentiles, this would be a new challenge, since he would have to adapt his preaching to people with different beliefs and backgrounds.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

At his next destination, Athens, Paul would encounter a very different audience: the Gentiles. This new audience would require a different approach to his preaching, since the Athenians had a culture and beliefs that contrasted with those of the Jews of Thessalonica and Berea.

In Athens, Paul was going to encounter ideas and beliefs that were different from what he was used to. This teaches us that sometimes our preaching will require adaptation, because we must understand people and their points of view in order to reach their hearts.

In Athens, many Gentiles did not know the scriptures, like the Jews in Berea or Thessalonica. This presented a challenge to Paul, but he was willing to meet that challenge. We can learn from his example and strive to adapt to different people by being patient, and looking for ways to share the message in a way they can understand.