“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 17:10-11 

The modern city of Berea, known today as Veroia, is located about an hour’s drive by car from the center of Thessaloniki in the north of Greece. I traveled from Thessaloniki to Berea by train, and then returned by express bus, which are easily done. You can book tickets online or in person at the respective stations. There is much to see in the town, such as the museum which showcases many of the archeological finds from the area. The downtown is a quaint maze of streets with shopping. Many of the locals commute to Thessaloniki for work, so it is a bedroom community for Greece’s second largest city.  

Berea and the Apostle Paul

However, one thing really stood out to me as I spent a pleasant day wandering the streets of the city. Everywhere you turn, you see monuments to the Apostle Paul, such as streets and parks. They even celebrate an annual festival, the Pavleia, in his honor every summer. In the center of town is a site called the Bema. It features some steps in a quiet setting, that, by tradition, are where Paul stood when he preached in the town. Please pray for this beautiful city. Like most of Greece today, it needs Gospel preachers to come and share that the Scriptures, while certainly historic, teach eternal truth for those alive today.  

The Bema in Berea, where Paul is said to have stood and preached. These steps are believed to have come from Berea’s first-century synagogue. Photo by John Buckner

 It takes a bit of searching to find the ancient Jewish Quarter of the city. It is is nestled in a lovely area, beside the Tripotamus river. There you will find a synagogue that was last used in 1943 when the Nazis deported the city’s Jews to Auschwitz. Many researchers believe that the synagogue where Paul preached would have stood in this historic area. Perhaps it is even where the synagogue stands today. It is sobering to stand there in front of the building and let the magnitude of the history of the place from Paul to WWII wash over you.  

The synagogue in Berea. It was last used for a service on May 1, 1943, when the Jews were deported to Auschwitz. Many believe that the synagogue where Paul preached was located either on this site or very close by. It is maintained as a historical site. Photo by John Buckner

Bereans and their Bibles

Interestingly, we are told that the people of Berea were more noble than those of the nearby Thessalonica, modern day Thessaloniki. The word noble means well born, or of high birth in Greek. This is perhaps the writer of Acts making an allusion to one of the area’s most well-known attractions: the graves of the kings of Macedon, including that of Alexander the Great’s father, Philip, which you can still see today a short distance from Berea. They were compared to Greek national heroes for their dedication to the Word of God! 

The Bereans are known for being dedicated to the Scripture. As modern believers, we should be like them. We should compare what we hear to the Bible for this attitude will keep us from error. In fact, Jesus rebuked the Sadducees with this phrase: “ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29) The only way to avoid error, and to know the power of God, is through faithful, careful study of God’s Word. Are you a Berean Christian?   

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 

About John Buckner

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