Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” And he drove them from the tribunal. And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.
(ESV)
—Acts 18:12-17
by: Lisa Moore.
While reading this passage, I could not help but smile at the irony of the situation. Gallio refused to be involved in the Jews religious dispute. He was not going to be manipulated into using the law to do the Jews bidding (as had been done to Jesus). But he also remained uninvolved when an actual crime was committed in front of him—the beating of the synagogue ruler by the Greeks! Was Gallio saved? The Scriptures do not reveal much about him, but his action and inaction show us that God has people in authority who will help further the cause of Christ.