The beloved physician Luke shared when Paul was in Corinth the Lord spoke, “to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not your peace. For I am with you, and no man shall set on you to hurt you: for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law. 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 you Jews, reason would that I should bear with you. But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look you to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drove them from the judgment seat”, and in chapter eighteen and verse seventeen of the book of Acts Luke shared, “then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat” where we read:
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.
The verse reads, “Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat.”: Luke began with the words, “then all the Greeks” which means “at that time each, every, the whole and everyone of the non-Jewish, Grecian heathen and pagan people” “took Sosthenes” or “accosted, seized and overtook Sosthenes whose name means savior of his nation and was a Jew at Corinth who was seized and beaten in the presence of Gallio”, “the chief ruler” which means “the principle leader and director” “of the synagogue” or “belonging to the sacred place where there was an assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures”, “and beat him” which means “and struck, smote and wounded Sosthenes” “before the judgment seat” or “in front and in the presence of the raised place, platform and tribune which was mounted by steps and was the official seat of a judge”. Luke shared how the “Grecian non-Jewish people” seized “Sosthenes” and “beat him” in front of the “judgment seat” where “Gallio” was sitting.
The verse goes on to say, “ And Gallio cared for none of those things.” Luke continued with the words, “and Gallio” or “and Gallio whose name means one who lives on milk and was known as Junius Annaeus Gallio, the Roman proconsul of Achaia when Paul was at Corinth, 53 A.D., under the emperor Claudius. He was brother to Jucius Annaeus Seneca, the philosopher. Jerome in the Chronicle of Eusebius says that he committed suicide in 65 A.D. Winer thinks he was put to death by Nero” “cared for none of those things” which means “did not concern himself with any of the things the Jewish people brought to him or that Sosthenes was beaten before his judgement seat”. Luke shared how “Gallio” did not concern himself with any of the complaints of the Jewish people nor that “Sosthenes” was “beaten” in front of him.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “Greek” people took the leader of the “synagogue” and “beat him” before “Gallio”. “Gallio” did not care because he had no concern over issues pertaining to the “Jewish law”. Rather than “Paul” suffering from judgment, “Sosthenes” did. God has His plan of salvation through His Son Jesus available to every person who will believe and trust in Him, and when they do, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Those who are wise will see how God intervened in the actions of the “Jewish people” against His servant “Paul” and understand He is watching over all who believe and trust in Him.
Next time Luke shares how Paul, “sailed … into Syria”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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