Jewish people bring a legal complaint against Paul.

Acts 18:12-18

“When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat…” Acts 18:12

“ACHAIA” was the region where the city of Corinth was, as seen on the map below,

A proconsul was a high-level official governing for the Roman Empire. During his time in power, the Jewish people came against Paul and brought a charge against him to Gallio’s court. This would be like a complaint [or charges] being brought against a Christian [or Christianity] at a high-level court, such as a state court or a nation’s Supreme Court. The charges being brought are an organized effort of today’s atheistic culture against Christianity.

 “…saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” Acts 18:13

The Jewish people were accusing Paul of persuading people to worship God contrary to the laws of Judaism. Paul was persuading people to worship God through faith in Jesus Christ instead of through the written laws of Judaism. Today’s culture, which is global, accuses Christianity of persuading people to live for God contrary to their law. What is their law? Their law is to live for the beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. However, Christians say that our body is the temple of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit, so we are violating their law that says the human body is the temple of the beast that intertwines itself within the thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors of people everywhere. The beast they worship is the one “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 The “he” in this verse is the “man of sin”. Click here for a post on the “man of sin”.

“And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” Acts 18:14-15

When Paul was about to speak in defense of the testimony of Jesus Christ, Gallio cut him off to silence him. This is equivalent to the judges of state courts, a nation’s Supreme Court, or a senate hearing, not wanting to hear from Christianity. Today, Christianity is quietly being driven into extinction, as described in Revelations 12.

Like Paul, we live in the presence of the Holy Spirit, and we do not engage in any wrongdoing towards the community culture nor the governing authorities. We listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit who says, “…be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” Titus 3:1-2 As it stands today, governing authorities and courts do not want to appear “unfriendly” or persecuting Christianity. However, if we cause an uproar, stir up the masses of the community culture, or violate other such laws of a civil society, then the courts would be obliged to prosecute a Christian.

In today’s culture: community, state, and national courts and politicians do not want to be engaged in judging religious matters. But they rely on the collective community effort to look after the judgment against the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all of Christianity. That is why today’s culture have turned against the Holy Spirit, who is given through Jesus Christ, and why the Holy Spirit says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’” Revelation 12:17

“And he drove them from the judgment seat.” Acts 18: 16

Gallio drove the Jewish people out of his court, didn’t want to hear any more cases concerning Jesus Christ, but ordered the Jewish people to look after the matter. Today, religious affairs are driven out of the courts and senate hearings to be looked after on a grassroots level. The grassroots people serve the atheistic beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. They have made war with God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Christians, the resurrection, eternal life, etc., “Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb…” Revelations 13:6-8 The “he” in this verse is the beast of the image and mark of the beast.

“Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things” Acts 18:17

Sosthenes was the leader of the Jewish people who brought Paul to the courtroom of Gallio. Because it disgusted Gallio that this case concerning Jesus Christ was brought to his courtroom, the Jewish people beat Sosthenes in front of Gallio. This was the Jewish people’s way of showing that they would handle religious troublemakers their way, and hopefully Gallio would look on them favorably. Gallio did signal his approval of what they did by looking the other way, ignoring the beating given to Sosthenes, and taking no notice of it.

In today’s culture, it is obvious that the grassroots culture has the approval of the governing authorities to beat Christianity into extinction. The spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been brought to a halt. The churches have abandoned the message of the Cross to partner with community values. Government lawmakers no longer integrate the values of the Bible into their laws, policies, and executive orders. The educational system prohibits the teaching of the Bible in classrooms. And the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is unwelcomed in every sector of society.

Sosthenes did come to say “Yes” to Jesus as the Christ and His Lord and Savior, as quoted, “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother…” 1 Corinthians 1:1 Obviously, Paul extended the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our Lord Jesus to Sosthenes, and in doing so was able to bring Sosthenes to eternal Salvation. Sosthenes was an individual, just one person, whose heart and mind were attentive to the Holy Spirit. This is who Paul wanted to reach, whom God wants all of us to reach, the one individual that is open to say “Yes” to Jesus Christ.

“So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.” Acts 18:18

Paul remained a good while in Corinth, after the failed attempt to have him arrested and prosecuted. The Holy Spirit was still opening doors to share the testimony of Jesus. As followers of Jesus Christ, we desire to remain in places where people are receptive to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When it was time for Paul to leave Corinth, he brought Priscilla and Aquila with him. What better blessing could we have than to “sail” with Chrisitan brothers and sisters in the stormy atheistic world of today’s culture?

Before sailing towards Syria, Paul had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. What was that vow? It is called the “Nazarite Vow.” For thirty days he would let his hair grow long then after that he would shave it off and burn it on the altar as an offering to God. To see the full details of that vow read, Numbers 6:1-21. 

On the map below, Cenchreae is seen just a bit south of Corinth. Syria is not pictured on the map but is to the east of Cyprus [all the way to the east of the map]. On the way to Syria, Paul would first make a stop in Ephesus, with Priscilla and Aquila. Ephesus is the topic of the next posts.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11