Acts 18 12

Acts 18:12 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,

Acts 18:12 nkjv

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 niv

While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment.

Acts 18:12 esv

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,

Acts 18:12 nlt

But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment.

Acts 18 verses

Acts 18 12 Meaning

Acts 18:12 describes a significant moment in the apostle Paul's ministry in Corinth where, after a period of establishing the church, the local Jewish community united to bring a formal accusation against him before Gallio, the Roman proconsul of Achaia. This legal confrontation aimed to halt Paul's spread of the Gospel.

Acts 18 12 Context

Acts chapter 18 details Paul's lengthy and fruitful ministry in Corinth. Beginning by working with Aquila and Priscilla, Paul initially preaches in the synagogue (v. 4) but turns his full attention to the Gentiles after facing Jewish opposition (v. 5-6), moving next door to the house of Titius Justus, a Gentile worshiper of God (v. 7). Despite continued resistance, significant conversions occur, including Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue (v. 8). Crucially, the Lord appears to Paul in a vision, assuring him, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking...for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you" (v. 9-10). Bolstered by this divine promise, Paul remains in Corinth for a year and six months (v. 11), deeply implanting the Gospel. Verse 12 then marks an inevitable climax to the rising tension: the organized, unified Jewish opposition moves beyond verbal hostility to a formal legal challenge before Roman authority, directly testing the Lord's protective promise.

Historically, this event is vital for New Testament chronology. The specific mention of "Gallio as proconsul of Achaia" provides a critical synchronism. Gallio's tenure is firmly dated by the Delphi Inscription to c. AD 51-52 (or 52-53). This fixed point anchors much of Paul's missionary journeys and timeline within documented Roman history, enhancing the historical credibility of the Book of Acts. Corinth, as the capital of the Roman province of Achaia and a major port city, was a complex environment, mixing Roman law, Greek philosophy, and Jewish communal life, providing the ideal stage for such a confrontation.

Acts 18 12 Word Analysis

• But (δὲ - dé): This conjunction indicates a narrative shift, often introducing a contrast or consequence. Here, it marks a pivot from Paul's peaceful, successful ministry (under divine protection) to the immediate challenge of human opposition through legal means.
• when Gallio (Γαλλίωνος - Galliónos): Refers to Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeus. He was known for his equitable and amiable disposition, earning him respect from his contemporaries. His identity and dating are historically confirmed by the Delphi Inscription, providing external validation for Acts' chronology. His presence underscores the official Roman judicial context.
• was proconsul (ἀνθυπατεύοντος - anthupatúontos): A present participle describing Gallio's active administrative role. A proconsul was the highest Roman official in a senatorial province like Achaia, possessing broad civil and judicial authority. This term precisely details his legitimate legal standing to hear such a case.
• of Achaia (Ἀχαΐας - Akhaḯas): The Roman senatorial province covering southern Greece, with Corinth as its administrative capital. This geographical detail specifies the jurisdiction and underscores the historical context.
• the Jews (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι - hoi Ioudaíoi): In the context of Acts, this typically refers to the members of the Jewish community who largely rejected Jesus as the Messiah and frequently opposed the nascent Christian movement, seeing it as a deviant sect or a threat to their traditional Judaism and their recognized status (religio licita) within the Roman Empire.
• with one accord (ὁμοθυμαδόν - homothymadón): A significant adverb, meaning "with one mind," "unanimously," "together." It emphasizes the unified and concerted nature of the Jewish community's action against Paul, demonstrating their resolute intent to suppress his ministry. While often used for the early Christian community's unity, here it highlights the opposition's strong collective will.
• rose up (ἀνέστησαν - anéstēsan): A strong verb, implying a vigorous, active movement or standing up against someone, signifying open rebellion or confrontation. It indicates they did not passively protest but actively initiated a legal process.
• against Paul (κατὰ Παύλου - katá Paulou): Clearly identifies the specific target of their collective animosity and legal action. Paul, as the primary missionary to the Gentiles, represented a direct challenge to their religious identity and practices.
• and brought him (καὶ προσήγαγον - kaí prosḗgagon): Signifies a formal, compulsory presentation or bringing of someone before an authority, implying an arrest or summoning for a legal hearing. This was not a street bickering but an official legal charge.
• before the judgment seat (ἐπὶ τὸ βῆμα - epí to béma): The bema was a raised platform in the Roman forum where the magistrate or governor sat to hear legal cases and render judgments. Its public nature implies an open trial and the intention of the accusers to publicly discredit and convict Paul. It stands in contrast to secret plots, making the event a public spectacle and official Roman concern.

Acts 18 12 Bonus Section

• The chronological marker provided by Gallio's proconsulship is one of the most reliable fixed points in dating the events of the New Testament, solidifying Paul's Second Missionary Journey to AD 50-52/53.
• The incident highlights the Roman imperial policy of generally allowing religious freedom for recognized cults and traditions, but being vigilant against disruptive new movements. The Jewish accusers likely hoped Gallio would perceive Paul's teaching as such a disruptive new sect.
• Gallio's eventual dismissal of the case, seeing it as an internal dispute about "words and names and your own law" (Acts 18:15), became a de facto legal precedent. This implicitly granted Christianity a temporary reprieve from being declared an illicit religion by Roman authority, which was immensely significant for its early growth and spread, ensuring Paul's mission would not be immediately suppressed by imperial decree.

Acts 18 12 Commentary

Acts 18:12 marks a critical point where Paul's prolific ministry in Corinth faced its most formidable official challenge yet. The unwavering "one accord" of "the Jews" underscores the depth of their religious conviction that Paul was teaching an illicit or heretical faith, fundamentally misrepresenting their Law. By bringing him "before the judgment seat" of "Gallio, proconsul of Achaia," they sought to leverage Roman law to criminalize Paul's preaching and, by extension, the emerging Christian movement. This attempt was based on the premise that Paul was advocating worship "contrary to the law" (v. 13), likely arguing it was not a legitimate branch of Judaism, and therefore, not covered by Rome's tolerance of Jewish religion (religio licita). However, this organized opposition ironically set the stage for divine providence to manifest through Gallio's disinterest in internal Jewish disputes (Acts 18:14-16), a decision that ultimately, though not intentionally, secured a measure of legal protection for early Christianity as long as it was seen as an internal Jewish matter. This ensured Paul's promised safety and allowed the Gospel to continue flourishing.