The Acts of the Apostles, the history of the early church, by Luke the physician - Acts 18:7-17 comments: Paul stands before Gallio

 

Acts 18:7 ¶  And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8  And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9  Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10  For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11  And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

 

Here is the beginning of the Corinthian church to which two letters were written that are found in the New Testament with problems and issues that still face the church in America today. The Lord tells Paul that He has many people that will be saved in Corinth so for a year and a half Paul teaches and establishes the church in Corinth.

 

Acts 18:12 ¶  And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, 13  Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. 14  And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 15  But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. 16  And he drave them from the judgment seat. 17  Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

 

Remember, Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia. Gallio, according to sources, was the elder brother of the Roman philosopher, Seneca the Younger, who became the tutor of the future emperor, Nero, under whom Paul will be executed according to tradition. Gallio was born Lucius Annaetus Novatus but was later adopted by a Roman Senator named Junius Gallio as a protégé changing his name to Junius Gallio. He became deputy or proconsul of Achaia in AD51 according to these sources.

 

Gallio was apparently not a confrontationalist and did not want to get involved in this dispute between the Jews and Paul. John Gill noted in his commentary that Seneca said of his brother that, “he was a very modest man, of a sweet disposition, and greatly beloved.” Gill also quotes another Roman writer who called him, “mild and gentle in his speech.” Gill’s commentary is free online so you can verify my quotes if you like.