Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 17:12

"Many of them therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honorable estate, and of men, not a few." — Acts 17:12 (ASV)

Therefore, as a result of their examination, they found that the doctrines of Paul and Silas corresponded with the Old Testament.

This result usually follows when people search the Scriptures. Much is gained when people can be persuaded to examine the Bible.

We can usually take it for granted that such an examination will result in their conviction of the truth.

The most prominent and invariable cause of unbelief is found in the fact that people will not investigate the Scriptures. Many unbelievers have confessed that they had never carefully read the New Testament.

Thomas Paine confessed that he wrote the first part of Age of Reason without having a Bible at hand, and without it being possible to obtain one where he was at the time (in Paris). He says, "I had neither Bible nor Testament to refer to, though I was writing against both; nor could I procure any." (Age of Reason, page 65, Edinburgh 1831; also page 33).

No one has ever read the Scriptures with candor and with a true spirit of prayer without being convinced of the truth of Christianity and being brought to submit their souls to its influence and its consolations.

The great thing Christians desire others to do is to search the Bible candidly; and when this is done, they confidently expect that they will be truly converted to God.

Of honorable women. (See Barnes on Acts 13:50).