Pastor's Sermon Notes: Paul Before Gallio (Acts 18:12-17)

Paul Before Gallio

Acts 18:12-17

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.

Introduction:

What follows in the next six verses in Luke’s historical narrative must be seen as flowing right out of the previous paragraphs (18:1-11). The contextual connections should be viewed especially in fulfillment of Christ’s promise to Paul in the vision (18:9-10), but also in the provocations involving the breach with the synagogue early in Paul’s ministry in Corinth (18:4-8).

18:9-10 - 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.

18:4-8 - ⁴ And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. ⁵ And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. ⁶ And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 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.

Outline:

I. To the Judgment Seat - Paul does not get to speak! (18:12-14a)

II. From the Judgment Seat - The Jews do not get satisfaction! (18:14b-16)

III. Before the Judgment Seat - Gallio does not get involved! (18:17)

Transition:  What is unique in this passage that should bring us to “full stop”?

What is repeated by way of emphasis or focus?

I. To the Judgment Seat - Paul does not get to speak! (18:12-14a)

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,

1. The Identity of Gallio (18:12a)

2. The Insurrection of the Jews (18:12b)

3. The Indictment of Paul (18:12c-14a)

1. The Identity of Gallio (18:12a)

And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia

“Proconsul” = Governor

Other government officials that Paul appeared before:

Sergius Paulus, deputy of Paphos, Cyprus (13:7-12)

Governor Felix (24)

Governer Portius Festus (25)

King Agrippa (26)

2. The Insurrection of the Jews (18:12b)

the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul

3. The Indictment of Paul (18:12c-14a)

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

What other political/government leaders did Paul appear before, and how did those appearances differ from this one?

Moffatt: “Paul was just on the point of opening his lips to reply…” [1]

Phillips: “Paul was all ready to speak, but before he could utter a word…” [2]

Mk. 4:35-41 - 35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Parallel passages in the Synoptic Gospels: Mt. 8:23-27; Lk. 8:22-25.

Only Mark tells us the words with which He “rebuked the winds and the sea/the wind and the raging of the water,” or commanded “the winds and water.” Only Mark distinguishes between the rebuking of the wind, and the commanding of the sea.

Compare Is. 23:2; Is. 42:14; Jer. 47:6.

Ps. 4:4 - Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Ps. 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Is. 26:3 - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Ps. 76:8-9 - ⁸ Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, ⁹ When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

Mic. 7:16 - The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.

[Compare Jud. 18:19; Job 21:5; 29:9; 40:4; Pr. 30:32.]

II. From the Judgment Seat - The Jews do not get satisfaction! (18:14b-16)

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.

1. Gallio’s judgment (18:14-15)

2. Gallio’s action (18:16)

1. Gallio’s judgment (18:14-15)

¹⁴ 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.

I would get involved if…

1) civil complaint; or,

2) criminal acts.

I will not get involved because…

1) words and names; and,

2) Jewish law.

“The mere fact that Gallio refused to take up the case against Paul may reasonably be held to have facilitated the spread of Christianity during the last years of Claudius and the earlier years of his successor.” [3]

2. Gallio’s action (18:16)

And he drave them from the judgment seat.

This is the only usage of this verb in the New Testament. It may mean more than that he merely “dismissed the case.” The sense of this verb may have more in common with the modern order to “clear the court.”

F. F. Bruce refers to this as: “the benevolent neutrality of the imperial authorities,” [4] and “the benevolent neutrality of Roman law” [5]

III. Before the Judgment Seat - Gallio does not get involved! (18:17)

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.

1. The Reaction of the Gentiles

2. The Non-reaction of Gallio

1. The Reaction of the Gentiles

Then all the Greeks [6] took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat.

Who was Sosthenes? 1 Cor. 1:1? This is a common name, and there is no known basis for assuming that this is a reference to the same person.

Who beat Sosthenes? Gentiles? Jews? There is a textual issue here that will explain why modern translations do not include any identifying information concerning who was responsible for this. There are actually three different variants in the manuscripts: some read simply “all”, while the majority read “the Greeks”, and a few have it as “the Jews”!

Why did they beat Sosthenes?

2. The Non-reaction of Gallio

And Gallio cared for none of those things.

“turned a blind eye” [7]

RSV: “paid no attention to this” [8]

Moffatt: “took no notice” [9]

Phillips: “remained completely unconcerned” [10]

Conclusion:

There is a time to speak.

There are also times to be still, and behold what God is doing without our personal intervention.

We do not always have to respond.

We do not always have to defend ourselves.

We have a Defender.

His actions speak much louder than our words.

[Sermon preached 14 SEP 2014 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Complete outline:

I. To the Judgment Seat - Paul does not get to speak! (18:12-14a)

1. The Identity of Gallio (18:12a)

2. The Insurrection of the Jews (18:12b)

3. The Indictment of Paul (18:12c-14a)

II. From the Judgment Seat - The Jews do not get satisfaction! (18:14b-16)

1. Gallio’s judgment (18:14-15)

2. Gallio’s action (18:16)

III. Before the Judgment Seat - Gallio does not get involved! (18:17)

1. The Reaction of the Gentiles

2. The Non-reaction of Gallio

Resources on Acts:

G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.

Paul Barnett, The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, After Jesus, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005).

Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).

                                                  

F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).

I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).

John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).

William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).

Resources on Paul:

Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians  (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011).

F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977).

D. A. Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), pp. 496-501.

W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life, Times and Travels of St. Paul, 2 vols. in 1, unabridged American ed. (New York: E. B. Treat U Co., 1869); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn1CAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Adolf Deissmann, Paul: A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson (New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).

F. W. Farrar, The Life and Work of St. Paul (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1889); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=RB2KeCSM6KsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Bruce N. Fisk, “Paul: Life and Letters”, in The Face of New Testament Studies: A Survey of Recent Research, ed. Scot McKnight and Grant R. Osborne (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), pp. 283-325.

Richard B.Gaffin, Jr., "Acts and Paul", 46 lectures (MP3 format), WTS Resources Media Center on Westminster Theological Seminary at http://wts.edu/resources/media.html?paramType=audio&filterTopic=5&filterSpeaker=10&filterYear=2005 [accessed 20 MAR 2013].

Frank J. Goodwin, A Harmony of the Life of the St. Paul According to the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Epistles (New York: American Tract Society, 1895); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=YgpEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Richard N. Longenecker, The Ministry And Message Of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).

Richard N. Longenecker, Paul, Apostle Of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964).

Richard N. Longenecker, ed., The Road From Damascus : The Impact Of Paul's Conversion On His Life, Thought, And Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).

Richard N. Longenecker, Studies In Paul, Exegetical And Theological (Sheffield : Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2004).

J. Gresham Machen, The Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures Delivered at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1925).

Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1955).

John Pollock, The Apostle: A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969, 2012); also published as The Man Who Shook the World (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1972; originally The Apostle: A Life of Paul, New York: Doubleday, 1969).

Stanley E. Porter, Paul in Acts, in Library of Pauline Studies, gen. ed. Stanley E. Porter (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1999; 2001 reprint of The Paul of Acts: Essays in Literary Criticism, Rhetoric and Theology, in Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 115, by Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen).

W. M. Ramsay, The Cities of St. Paul: Their Influence on his Life and Thought (New York: A. C. Armstrong and Son; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1908); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=JryEbmKool0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, Pauline and Other Studies in Early Christian History (New York: A. C. Armstrong and Son, 1906); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ZJAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 10th ed. (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1907); on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ramsay/paul_roman.html [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, The Teaching of Paul in terms of The Present Day: The Deems Lectures in New York University (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914); on Internet Archive at http://ia600404.us.archive.org/2/items/teachingofpaulin00rams/teachingofpaulin00rams.pdf [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

A. T. Robertson, Epochs in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Character (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Paul The Missionary: Realities, Strategies And Methods (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008).

Udo Schnelle, Apostle Paul: His Life and Theology, trans. M. Eugene Boring (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003; trans. from Paulus: Leben und Denken, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co., n.d.).

Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2001).

James Stalker, The Life of St. Paul, (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885; rev. ed. 2010 by Kessinger Publishing from 1912 ed.); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=vT0HAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 7 FEB 2013].

James Ironside Still, St. Paul on Trial (London: Student Christian Movement, 1923).

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End Notes:

[1] James Moffatt, The New Testament, A New Translation, rev. ed. (New York: Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1922), pg. 206; and James Moffatt, A New Translation Of The Bible Containing The Old And New Testaments, rev. ed. (New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1935), pg. 171.

[2] J. B. Phillips, The New Testament in Modern English, Student Edition, rev. ed. (New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1955, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1972), pg. 278.

[3] F. F. Bruce, New Testament History (Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, 1969), pg. 317.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Op. cit., pg. 359.  “Seven or eight years previously he had experienced the benevolent neutrality of Roman law in the decision of Gallio at Corinth.”

[6] There is a textual issue here between the Textus Receptus, the Byzantine textform, the Majority Text - all of which include the words here translated “the Greeks” - and the Nestle-Aland and United Bible Society texts which do not. Most modern translations follow the Nestle-Aland and United Bible Society texts. Young’s Literal Translation (1862) was the last English translation to include these words. Since 1881 no translation has done so, while the New King James Version retains the 1611 Authorized Version’s rendering.

[7] Bruce, op. cit., pg. 317. “This is the force of ‘Gallio paid no attention to this’ (Acts 18:17), paraphrased in the Western text, “Gallio pretended not to see’.” Ibid., note 42.

[8] The Revised Standard Version. 1971 (Ac 18:17). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[9] James Moffatt, The New Testament, op. cit., pg. 206; and  James Moffatt, A New Translation, op cit., pg. 171.

[10] J. B. Phillips, op. cit., pg. 278.