Berea

Berea was a city in Macedonia where Paul preached, and the home of Sopater, one of Paul's traveling companions.

Berea, also known as Beroea, was a city in Macedonia, located southwest of Thessalonica. It is mentioned in the book of Acts as one of the places where Paul and Silas preached the gospel during Paul's second missionary journey. After being forced to leave Thessalonica due to opposition from the Jews, Paul and Silas went to Berea (Act.17.10). The Bereans were commended for their open-mindedness and diligence in examining the Scriptures daily to verify the truth of Paul's message (Act.17.11). Many of the Bereans believed, including prominent Greek women and men. However, when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching in Berea, they came and stirred up trouble, forcing Paul to leave the city (Act.17.13-14). Sopater, a believer from Berea, later accompanied Paul on his return trip to Asia (Act.20.4). The church in Berea stands as an example of a community that eagerly received the word of God and diligently studied the Scriptures.

A city of Macedonia to which Paul with Silas and Timotheus went when persecuted at Thessalonica (Acts 17:10, 13), and from which also he was compelled to withdraw, when he fled to the sea-coast and thence sailed to Athens (14, 15). Sopater, one of Paul’s companions belonged to this city, and his conversion probably took place at this time (Acts 20:4). It is now called Verria.