Acts 18:12-17 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul… In this fragment of apostolic history, notice — I. RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE (ver. 12) is seen in three things — 1. In the reason of their opposition to Paul. Was it because he had violated any law, invaded any human rights, broken the public peace, or insulted the public morals? No, but simply because he had "persuaded" men to worship God in a way not exactly agreeable to their own views. 2. In the spirit of their opposition. "They made insurrection with one accord." 3. In the means of their opposition. Bigotry substitutes abuse for argument and in this case bigots sought to crush by invoking the arm of civil authority. II. MAGISTERIAL PROPRIETY. Did Gallio, like Pilate, bow to public wish? No, he would not even entertain the case (vers. 14, 15). He meant that the question of religious differences came not within the authority of a civil magistrate. On this principle the Roman government generally acted. Gallio, as a magistrate, acted justly — 1. Towards himself. The magistrate who interferes with the religious opinions of the people incurs a responsibility too great for any man to bear. 2. To his fellow subjects. "Look ye to it." Religion is not to be settled in courts of law, but in courts of conscience. III. SOCIAL RETRIBUTION. "Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, and beat him before the judgment seat." "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." This case develops — 1. The natural sense of justice in humanity. These Greeks had witnessed Sosthenes' wicked endeavours to crush a righteous man, and their sense of justice was outraged; and now their opportunity occurred for vengeance. This sense of justice is a spark from Divinity, and a pledge that one day justice will be done to all. 2. The reproductiveness of evil in man. Sosthenes had dealt out vengeance to Paul, and now it came back to him in a rich harvest. Violence begets violence, etc. The propagating power of evil is immense. "Satan cannot cast out Satan." Christ has taught the true theory of this moral expulsion. 3. The power of the gospel. It is more than probable that this is the Sosthenes referred to in 1 Corinthians 1:2. So that over this fierce persecutor Paul's gospel so triumphed, that he became a brother in the holy cause. IV. LAMENTABLE INDIFFERENCE. "He cared for none of these things." This can scarcely be nothing more than mere magisterial unconcernedness about religious disputes. As an educated Roman, he regarded the religion of Paul as beneath his notice. Religious indifferentism is one of the greatest and most prevalent evils of this age too, and it is infidelity in its worst form. Mere theoretical infidelity you can put down by argument. But this is beyond the reach of all logic. Religious indifference is — 1. Unreasonable. No question is of such transcendent moment to man as religion, and therefore it is madness on his part to neglect it. 2. Criminal. It is contrary to the wishes and the labours of the holiest men; it involves the abuse of all the means of spiritual improvement; and it is a practical disregard to all the commands of God. 3. Perilous. The danger is great, increasing, but still, thank God, at present avoidable. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses 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, |
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