17:11 What does the word "noble" (KJV) mean here?
17:11 What does the word "noble" (KJV) mean here?
Noble here means well born (CP Lu 19:12; 1Cor 1:26).
The Berean Jews were more courteous, of a better disposition, better educated, and more polished than the Thessalonian Jews. They received the gospel with all readiness of mind, but were not gullible.
They searched the scriptures daily to see that what Paul and Silas taught was correct. We learn from this that no Christian should passively accept all that is taught in their assembly. Everything should be tested in the light of scripture (CP 1Th 5:21; 1Jn 4:1).
Any teaching that cannot be proved from scripture must be rejected (CP 2Pe 1:16-19).
Paul's and Silas' teaching was acceptable because it conformed to scripture.