The Bereans Search the Scriptures

In Berea the people received the word gladly and searched the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul taught was true. Many of them believed.

Teach this lesson: film, sheets and guide Print the coloring page

Bible passage: Acts 17:10–15
Big idea: We check everything by God’s Word.
Memory verse: 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. Acts 17:11 (KJV)
Ages: Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
Time: About 45 minutes
Included, free: Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game

The story

The believers in Thessalonica sent Paul and Silas away by night to the town of Berea (Acts 17:10). As soon as they arrived, they went into the synagogue to teach (Acts 17:10). The people of Berea were “more noble than those in Thessalonica” (Acts 17:11). They gladly listened to God’s word with open minds, and they “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Because they searched the Scriptures, many of them believed, both women and men (Acts 17:12). But some men from Thessalonica heard that Paul was preaching in Berea, and they came and stirred up the people (Acts 17:13). So the believers quickly sent Paul away toward the sea, while Silas and Timotheus stayed behind (Acts 17:14). Paul’s friends took him to Athens, and he sent word for Silas and Timotheus to come quickly (Acts 17:15).

Read it in the Bible: Acts 17:10–15 (KJV)

¹⁰And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹These 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. ¹²Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. ¹³But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. ¹⁴And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. ¹⁵And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Questions to ask

What did the Bereans do every day?
They searched the Scriptures.
Why did they search?
To see whether those things were so.
What word describes them?
More noble.

What this story teaches

God’s Word is the true test for everything we hear (Acts 17:11).
It is noble to receive God’s word with a ready mind (Acts 17:11).
Searching the Scriptures leads people to believe (Acts 17:12).
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

Jesus Is in the Scriptures

The Bereans searched the Scriptures to see if Paul’s message was true. Jesus said the Scriptures tell about Him.

John 5:39

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 min	Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us love His Word.
10 min	The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next.
10 min	Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “We check everything by God’s Word.” What does that mean for us?
5 min	Memory verse. Say Acts 17:11 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone.
10 min	Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions).
5 min	Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week.

Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.

Game time

For kids · game · indoors · about 12 minutes

Bible Detective

You need: Children’s Bibles, statement cards with a verse to check

Read a statement like “Jesus was born in Nazareth.”
Teams look up the verse on the card (Matthew 2:1) to check it.
True or false? The first team with the right answer and the verse wins the point.

The Bereans “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” God’s Word is how we check what’s true.

For youth group · game · indoors · about 20 minutes

Fact-Check Challenge

You need: Bibles, a list of famous sayings

Read sayings people think are in the Bible: “God helps those who help themselves.” “Money is the root of all evil.” “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
Teams search to find whether the Bible says it, and what it really says (1 Timothy 6:10: the love of money).
Most correct finds wins.

The Bereans checked everything with Scripture. Be a Berean.

Pray

Ask God to help us love His Word.