The beloved physician Luke wrote while Paul was in the city of Corinth, the Lord spoke to him, “in the night by a vision”, and said, “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 in chapter eighteen and verse fourteen of the book of Acts Luke shared what happened, “when Paul was now about to open his mouth where we read:
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:
The verse reads, “And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, ...”: Luke began with the words, “and when Paul” which means “and at the time and moment Paul whose name means small or little” “was now about to open his mouth” or “was at the point, intending and had in mind to open up the place in his face used for speaking and eating”, “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” “was the deputy of Achaia” or “acted as the proconsul belonging to Achaia which means trouble and was the maritime region of northern Peloponnesus” “said unto the Jews” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to the Jewish people by origin, birth or religion”. Luke shared how “Paul” was about to defend himself when “Gallio” began to speak to the “Jewish people” who brought “Paul” to him.
The verse continues, “... If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O you Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:” Luke added the words, “if it were a matter of wrong” or “whether the accusation the Jewish people brought against Paul was a misdeed, evil doing or iniquity” “or wicked lewdness” which means “or evil and bad condition”, “O you Jews” or “Oh you Jewish people”, “reason would that I should bear with you” which means “there would be a cause or motive to accept your case”. Luke shared how “Gallio” told the Jewish people if they had a “case” of wicked doing or serious crime, he would have a “reason or cause” to accept their case against “Paul”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” was about to give a defense to the charges brought against him by the Jewish people, however, “Gallio” told them he would not allow their “case” because it didn't involve “wrongdoing” or some “serious crime”. Interestingly enough, “Gallio” became an agent for “Paul” to continue his declaration of the “gospel”. God wants people to know about His “salvation” through His Son Jesus, and even when there is opposition to people who share it, He will defend His “good news”. Anyone who believes and trusts in Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life, and those who are wise align with God's plan of “salvation” rather than be in opposition to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Gallio says, “if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look you to it”, 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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