BRUCE C WEARNE, in his look at the Book of Acts, looks at what happens in passage in which Jewish opponents of Paul’s preaching in Corinth appeal to the Roman proconsul…
However, when Gallio took his position as proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a concerted attack upon Paul bringing [their case against] him before the tribunal, in these terms, “This man is seeking to persuade people to worship God contrary to the law [of this place].” But even before Paul could open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If this were a matter of illegal matters or of deception, I should have good cause to consider the complaint of you Jews; but since it is a matter of words and names and of [how these are to be interpreted by your own law], you must see to it yourselves. I refuse to act as judge in these matters.” And he had them removed from the [precincts of the] tribunal. But having taken hold of Sos’thenes, the synagogue ruler, they proceeded to assault him [right there] in the tribunal’s precincts.. But Gallio paid no attention to this whatsoever. – Acts 18: 12-17
CONTROVERSY FOLLOWS PAUL: Ancient Corinth, where Paul was brought before the Roman proconsul Gallio. PICTURE: Tim Rogers/www.freeimages.com
IN A NUTSHELL
Jews of the Corinthian synagogue tried to get Paul into trouble, but Gallio would have the case heard in his court. Even so, the synagogue ruler was beaten in his presence.
The last line reveals that the synagogue itself had become a pawn in a political campaign waged by Paul’s opponents. When Luke refers to “they” in verse 17, the account implies the complaint was about a synagogue ruler who had embraced Jesus as Israel’s Messiah. There was Crispus and there was Sosthenes. Do these two names belong to the same person? Of course, there might have been two synagogue rulers of the Corinthian synagogue who had been won over to the Gospel, but Sosthenes was given a belting right in front of the proconsul when he refused to let Paul speak and defend himself.
Here again we realise we don’t know all the facts but what we do know is disturbing and revealing. Maybe it was not just Paul’s opponents but Gallio’s thuggish soldiers who belted Sosthenes. Luke recounts the injustice of a treacherous situation.
Clearly the Jewish complainants to Gallio were provoked by a threat to their effective control of the synagogue. As Luke tells it, we are left to conclude that the teaching about the Messiah of Israel spurred them to this action and tried to do so with the complicity of the civil authority. Gallio did not want to issue a judgment. And even though the appellants proceeded to act unjustly in his sight he was not moved. There would be no judicial investigation. His answer indicates an early trend in the way Roman courts judged cases in which Christians were involved. When Jewish opponents stirred up strife, Christians came to the notice of the Roman courts. We should not assume the Christians were always blameless, even if the teaching of Jesus, the apostles and Paul give clear instructions about obeying the civil laws as part of love for the neighbour.
Remember, these Christian Jews believed it would be a grievous neglect if they did not offer the Gospel to their fellow Jews. From the outset, the disciples of Jesus, Jews and Gentiles, accepted the task of telling those who gathered to worship the God of Israel at local synagogues, that the Messiah had come. Christians are still commanded to reach out to their Jewish neighbours, whatever the personal cost may be. Why? The precedent is set. The New Testament tells us of Jews reaching out in the name of Jesus to their fellow Jews, and, as we are told, sometimes it was to their very great cost.
Previously, Jason had to raise bail on behalf of the believers. Jewish opponents of Paul went to the marketplace and rented a mob to start a riot, attacking Jason’s house and then taking their accusation to the proconsul – Paul was guilty of sedition. Jason’s faith meant he was out of pocket (Acts 17:1-9). This time Sosthenes endured black eyes and bruises for following Jesus. Not easy. Some in the synagogue would have been wondering whether following Jesus was worth the risk. Jesus had taught His disciples to “count the cost”. This was a condition of following Him. Discipleship is not cheap; it costs.
OPEN BOOK – HINTS FROM THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS: GALLIO TELLS THE JEWS – “YOU SORT IT!”
BRUCE C WEARNE, in his look at the Book of Acts, looks at what happens in passage in which Jewish opponents of Paul’s preaching in Corinth appeal to the Roman proconsul…
However, when Gallio took his position as proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a concerted attack upon Paul bringing [their case against] him before the tribunal, in these terms, “This man is seeking to persuade people to worship God contrary to the law [of this place].” But even before Paul could open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If this were a matter of illegal matters or of deception, I should have good cause to consider the complaint of you Jews; but since it is a matter of words and names and of [how these are to be interpreted by your own law], you must see to it yourselves. I refuse to act as judge in these matters.” And he had them removed from the [precincts of the] tribunal. But having taken hold of Sos’thenes, the synagogue ruler, they proceeded to assault him [right there] in the tribunal’s precincts.. But Gallio paid no attention to this whatsoever. – Acts 18: 12-17
CONTROVERSY FOLLOWS PAUL: Ancient Corinth, where Paul was brought before the Roman proconsul Gallio. PICTURE: Tim Rogers/www.freeimages.com
IN A NUTSHELL
Jews of the Corinthian synagogue tried to get Paul into trouble, but Gallio would have the case heard in his court. Even so, the synagogue ruler was beaten in his presence.
The last line reveals that the synagogue itself had become a pawn in a political campaign waged by Paul’s opponents. When Luke refers to “they” in verse 17, the account implies the complaint was about a synagogue ruler who had embraced Jesus as Israel’s Messiah. There was Crispus and there was Sosthenes. Do these two names belong to the same person? Of course, there might have been two synagogue rulers of the Corinthian synagogue who had been won over to the Gospel, but Sosthenes was given a belting right in front of the proconsul when he refused to let Paul speak and defend himself.
Here again we realise we don’t know all the facts but what we do know is disturbing and revealing. Maybe it was not just Paul’s opponents but Gallio’s thuggish soldiers who belted Sosthenes. Luke recounts the injustice of a treacherous situation.
Clearly the Jewish complainants to Gallio were provoked by a threat to their effective control of the synagogue. As Luke tells it, we are left to conclude that the teaching about the Messiah of Israel spurred them to this action and tried to do so with the complicity of the civil authority. Gallio did not want to issue a judgment. And even though the appellants proceeded to act unjustly in his sight he was not moved. There would be no judicial investigation. His answer indicates an early trend in the way Roman courts judged cases in which Christians were involved. When Jewish opponents stirred up strife, Christians came to the notice of the Roman courts. We should not assume the Christians were always blameless, even if the teaching of Jesus, the apostles and Paul give clear instructions about obeying the civil laws as part of love for the neighbour.
Remember, these Christian Jews believed it would be a grievous neglect if they did not offer the Gospel to their fellow Jews. From the outset, the disciples of Jesus, Jews and Gentiles, accepted the task of telling those who gathered to worship the God of Israel at local synagogues, that the Messiah had come. Christians are still commanded to reach out to their Jewish neighbours, whatever the personal cost may be. Why? The precedent is set. The New Testament tells us of Jews reaching out in the name of Jesus to their fellow Jews, and, as we are told, sometimes it was to their very great cost.
Previously, Jason had to raise bail on behalf of the believers. Jewish opponents of Paul went to the marketplace and rented a mob to start a riot, attacking Jason’s house and then taking their accusation to the proconsul – Paul was guilty of sedition. Jason’s faith meant he was out of pocket (Acts 17:1-9). This time Sosthenes endured black eyes and bruises for following Jesus. Not easy. Some in the synagogue would have been wondering whether following Jesus was worth the risk. Jesus had taught His disciples to “count the cost”. This was a condition of following Him. Discipleship is not cheap; it costs.
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