Acts 18:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,

NIV: While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment.

NASB: But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,

CSB: While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack against Paul and brought him to the tribunal.

NLT: But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment.

KJV: And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

NKJV: When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,

The synagogue of Corinth rejects Paul's assertions that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah as prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures. As have synagogues in many other towns, they reject Paul. Fortunately, some believe. Titius Justus is a Gentile God-worshiper who not only chooses to follow Jesus, his home is next door to the synagogue and he offers its use to Paul. In addition, the ruler of the synagogue, Crispus, believes and follows Paul to help him build the new church (Acts 18:6–8).

The Jews are not satisfied—they want Paul out. They charge him with "persuading people to worship God contrary to the law" (Acts 18:13). In the Roman Empire, it was illegal to preach a god that was not authorized by the government. In addition, much of the wording used by Jesus-followers, including calling Jesus "king," was in direct conflict with emperor worship.

A proconsul was the ruler of a district that did not need a standing army. He answered to the Roman Senate, not the emperor. Lucius Junius Gallio was the proconsular governor of Achaia, which included the large island-like area, where Corinth was, as well as the thin strip of land that connected it to the mainland of Greece. Gallio was the brother of Seneca the Younger, the famous Roman Stoic philosopher, and had a reputation for being funny and amiable. An inscription shows he governed Achaia in AD 51 and 52.

In Pisidian Antioch, the Jewish leaders incited the leading women and men to drive Paul and Barnabas out of town (Acts 13:50). In Iconium, they joined with the Gentiles to harass them (Acts 14:5–6). In Philippi, Paul and Silas were charged before the city magistrates (Acts 16:19–20). In Thessalonica, the Jews created a mob out of some "wicked men" (Acts 17:5) and charged them before the city authorities.

In Corinth, the Jewish leaders make especially strong efforts. A rabble can force someone out of the city, but they can't make them stay out. Even the authority of the politarchs—city governors—of Thessalonica had limited authority. But a proconsul, backed by the authority of the Roman Senate, can restrict Paul's movements through the entire Empire. Fortunately for Paul and his partners, Gallio doesn't care.

Acts 18:12–17 describes the relatively mild resistance Paul meets as he builds the church in Corinth. Paul spends eighteen months in Corinth teaching about Jesus' offer of forgiveness and establishing the church. The Jews who reject his message bring him to court and accuse him of teaching a new religion that isn't authorized by the Roman government. Gallio, the proconsul, doesn't see any socially relevant difference between the Jews and the Jesus-followers. So, he dismisses the charges. A crowd responds by seizing the leader of the synagogue and beating him, but Gallio does not give it any attention.

Acts 18 recounts the end of Paul's second missionary journey. He leaves Athens for Corinth, in southern Greece, and works with Priscilla and Aquila as a tentmaker until Silas and Timothy rejoin him. The team stays eighteen months with no significant pressure. Eventually, Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila sail east to Ephesus. Paul leaves a short time later for Judea and Syrian Antioch before returning to Galatia for his third missionary journey. Meanwhile, Priscilla and Aquilla host the church in Ephesus and train a talented speaker named Apollos to be a minister of Christ.

Acts 18 covers the last half of Paul's second missionary journey and the first part of the third. He and his team have traveled down the east coast of Macedonia and Greece to Corinth (Acts 17) where they will spend eighteen months. Paul will stop briefly in Ephesus on their way back to Judea before visiting Jerusalem and Syrian Antioch. From there, Paul will return to Galatia in modern-day Asia Minor before returning to Ephesus for an extended stay (Acts 19). He will revisit the churches in Macedonia and Greece before facing arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.