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Acts 18:14

in Acts 18

But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villany, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

KJV

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:

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This verse in Acts 18

Commentary

8 notes on this verse
And when Paul was now about to open his mouth,.... In his own defence, and plead his own cause, and answer to the charge exhibited against him: Gallio said unto the Jews, if it was matter of wrong; of injury to any man's person or property, as murder, theft, &c. or wicked lewdness; as fraud, forgery, perjury, treason, &c.

This site's exposition

If it were a matter of wrong

on Acts 18:14-16

Before Paul can even open his mouth to defend himself, Gallio cuts the case off, telling the Jews that if this were a matter of crime or wrongdoing he would hear them, but a question of words and names and their own law is no business for a Roman court to judge. He drives them from the judgment seat, a ruling that in effect grants Christianity the same legal protection Judaism already held as a recognized religion under Roman law, since Gallio treats the dispute as internal to Judaism rather than as a new and suspect cult. The bench reads Gallio's dismissal as providential timing, a favorable precedent set early enough to shelter the Gentile mission's expansion for years afterward. His indifference to the fate of Sosthenes, beaten before his own tribunal, is the one shadow on an otherwise consequential ruling.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.14 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

He condemns Pilate, who did not find any proven accusation against Jesus, the Word of God, yet had him flogged and handed him over to death, saying, "I find no pretext for the death of this man."

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 39 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"Saying, This fellow seduceth men contrary to the law to worship God. And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said: If indeed it were any wrong-doing or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you. 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. And he drave them from the judgment-seat." This Gallio seems to me to have been a sensible man. Thus observe, when these had said, "Against the law he seduceth men to worship God," he "cared for none of these things": and observe how he answers them: "If indeed it were" any matter affecting the city, "any wrong-doing or wicked lewdness," etc. And observe how prudent he is: for he does not say straightway, I care not, but, "If," says he, "it were a matter of wrong-doing or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you; but if it be a question of doctrine and words and of your law, see ye to it, for I do not choose to be a judge of such matters." He taught them that not such are the matters which crave a judicial sentence, but they do all things out of order. And he does not say, It is not my duty, but, "I do not choose," that they may not trouble him again. Thus Pilate said in the case of Christ, "Take ye Him, and judge him according to your law." But they were just like men drunken and mad.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Paul was going about to make his defence, and to show that he did not teach men to worship God contrary to the law; but the judge, being resolved not to pass any sentence upon this cause, would not give himself the trouble of examining it. He shows himself very ready to do the part of a judge in any matter that it was proper for him to take cognizance of.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Paul was now about to open his mouth - He was about to enter on his defense; but Gallio, perceiving that the prosecution was through envy and malice, would not put Paul to any farther trouble, but determined the matter as follows. If it were a matter of wrong - Αδικημα, Of injustice; any thing contrary to the rights of the subject. Or wicked lewdness - Ῥᾳδιουργημα πονηρον, Destructive mischief. (See the note on Act 13:10, where the word is explained.) Something by which the subject is grievously wronged; were it any crime against society or against the state.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

when Gallio was the deputy--"the proconsul." See on Ac 13:7. He was brother to the celebrated philosopher SENECA, the tutor of Nero, who passed sentence of death on both.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

About to open his mouth - In self-defense, ever ready to vindicate his conduct. A matter of wrong - Injustice, or crime, such as could be properly brought before a court of justice. Or wicked lewdness - Any flagrant and gross offence. The word used here occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It denotes properly an act committed by him who is skilled, facile, or an adept in iniquity an act of a veteran offender. Such crimes Gallio was willing to take cognizance of. Reason would ... - Greek: “I would bear with you according to reason.” There would be propriety or fitness in my hearing and trying the case. Thai is, it would fall within the sphere of my duty, as appointed to guard the peace, and to punish crimes.

The words behind it

28 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Peter 3:14–15But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”3 worksActs 26:1–2Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:2 worksActs 21:39But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”2 worksActs 13:18He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.2 worksActs 23:27–29This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,2 worksMark 9:19“O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”2 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Hebrews 5:2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.2 works2 Corinthians 11:4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily.2 worksActs 25:18–20But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.2 worksRomans 13:3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.2 worksActs 25:26I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign one about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write.2 worksActs 25:11If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”2 works2 Corinthians 11:1I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.2 worksLuke 21:12–15But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.2 worksActs 19:38So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there.2 worksActs 25:5So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”2 worksEsther 1:16And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes.2 worksMatthew 5:2and He began to teach them, saying:2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Acts 21:39

    But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”

    it leads to

    • Acts 22:3

      “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just…

    • Acts 9:11

      “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

    • Acts 23:27

      This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,

  • Through

    Acts 13:18

    He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.

    it leads to

    • Acts 7:36

      He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

    • Acts 7:39–43

      But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

    • Amos 5:25–26

      Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

    • Deuteronomy 1:31

      and in the wilderness, where the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way by which you traveled until you reached this place.”

    • Ezekiel 20:10–17

      So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 18 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.14; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 39; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.

Read on in Acts 18 →