Acts 18 15

Acts 18:15 kjv

But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

Acts 18:15 nkjv

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 18:15 niv

But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law?settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things."

Acts 18:15 esv

But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things."

Acts 18:15 nlt

But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters."

Acts 18 verses

Acts 18 15 Meaning

Acts 18:15 records Proconsul Gallio's definitive dismissal of the charges brought by the Jews against the Apostle Paul in Corinth. Gallio states that if the dispute concerns matters of religious doctrines, specific spiritual claims (like the name of Jesus and the Messiahship), or interpretations of their specific religious law, then it is an internal affair for the Jews to resolve amongst themselves. He unequivocally declares that he will not act as a judge in such matters, indicating his clear stance that the accusations do not constitute criminal offenses under Roman law but are rather theological debates.

Acts 18 15 Context

Acts 18 describes Paul's extended ministry in Corinth, a significant commercial and cultural center in Achaia. Paul lodged with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers, and daily reasoned in the synagogue. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself entirely to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. Faced with persistent opposition and blasphemy from some Jews, Paul declared his shift to the Gentiles. Nevertheless, Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, and many Corinthians believed. It was during this period, marked by a mixture of success and antagonism, that the local Jews, united in their opposition, brought Paul before the Roman proconsul Gallio, accusing him of persuading people to worship God "contrary to the law" (Acts 18:13). They likely meant Jewish law, or a distortion of religious practices recognized by Roman law, hoping to gain Roman support against Paul. Verse 15 is Gallio's concise and impactful judgment, signaling a pivotal moment for early Christianity. He recognized that the dispute was not a matter of criminal offense under Roman statutes but rather an internal theological disagreement within Judaism, a religio licita (legal religion) at the time. Gallio’s refusal to interfere effectively granted early Christianity, for a time, a measure of protection, treating its nascent stages as a variation of Judaism, thus indirectly benefiting from Judaism's legally protected status.

Acts 18 15 Word analysis

• If (Εἰ - Ei): Introduces a conditional statement. It suggests that Gallio views the core issue not as a criminal act but as a type of dispute, setting the parameters for his subsequent rejection of the case.

• it is (ἐστιν - estin): Simple present indicative, affirming the reality of the accusation, but qualifying its nature.

• a question of (περὶ - peri): A preposition meaning "concerning," "about." It clarifies that the Jewish charges revolve around specific topics, which Gallio then enumerates.

• words (λόγου - logou): (Greek: logos in genitive case) Not just spoken utterances, but signifies doctrines, teachings, philosophical ideas, or the very essence of disputes over Scripture's interpretation. From Gallio’s perspective, these were merely theological arguments. From the Jewish perspective, Paul was challenging fundamental aspects of their revealed truth and oral tradition.

• and (καὶ - kai): Conjunction, linking distinct but related categories of dispute.

• names (ὀνομάτων - onomatōn): (Greek: onoma in genitive plural) This specifically points to discussions about authority, identity, or reputation. In this context, it primarily refers to the "Name" of Jesus, which was central to Paul's preaching and considered blasphemous or a challenge to the established Jewish authority. It also covered the claims of Messiahship associated with Jesus.

• and (καὶ - kai): Again, linking to the next category.

• your own law (νόμου τοῦ καθ’ ὑμᾶς - nomou tou kath' hymas): (Greek: nomos in genitive case, followed by the demonstrative and a prepositional phrase meaning "according to you") This refers specifically to the Jewish Mosaic Law, including its numerous interpretations and traditional expansions. The emphasis "your own" indicates it is internal to the Jewish community, not part of universal Roman civil law. This was the crucial distinction for Gallio.

• look to it yourselves (ὄψεσθε αὐτοί - opsesthe autoi): (Greek: horaō in future middle imperative, and autos intensive pronoun) A forceful command, literally meaning "you yourselves will see to it" or "you yourselves observe." It is a decisive instruction for the plaintiffs to handle their own internal religious matters. This phrase asserts Roman non-intervention in internal religious squabbles.

• for (γὰρ - gar): Causal conjunction, explaining the reason for his directive.

• I do not intend (οὐ βούλομαι - ou boulomai): (Greek: ou "not," and boulomai "to will," "to wish," "to purpose") This signifies a clear, deliberate refusal. Gallio consciously chooses not to involve himself, not out of disinterest or laziness, but as a matter of policy regarding his judicial role.

• to be a judge (κριτὴς εἶναι - kritēs einai): (Greek: kritēs "judge," einai "to be") Explicitly defines his judicial capacity. He makes it clear that he will not fulfill the function of a judge for these specific kinds of matters, thereby affirming his legitimate authority but also defining its boundaries.

• of these things (τούτων - toutōn): (Greek: houtos in genitive plural) Referring collectively to the "words," "names," and "your own law" he just listed. This serves as a categorical exclusion of all religious and theological disputes from his jurisdiction.

• "words and names and your own law": This phrase represents Gallio's Roman categorisation of what the Jews considered critical matters of heresy and religious purity. For the Jews, these were matters of grave divine truth; for Gallio, they were academic or religious disputes without bearing on public order or Roman criminal statutes. His use of "your own law" decisively separates the Jewish law from the Roman legal system, stating that a violation of the former does not equate to a violation of the latter in his court.

• "look to it yourselves; for I do not intend to be a judge of these things": This forms the essence of Gallio's verdict. It highlights the Roman principle of non-interference in internal religious affairs of recognised cults (like Judaism) unless a public disturbance or violation of Roman civil law occurred. Gallio firmly distinguishes between legal wrongdoing punishable by the state and theological disagreements best handled by the religious community itself. This separation was crucial for the initial protection and spread of the early Christian message, which Rome largely perceived, for a time, as an offshoot of Judaism.

Acts 18 15 Bonus section

The historical backdrop further emphasizes Gallio's character and the significance of his decision. Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus was the older brother of Seneca the Younger, the renowned Stoic philosopher. Both were highly regarded. The Delphic inscription, a significant archaeological find, helped scholars pinpoint Gallio’s proconsulship to AD 51-52, confirming the accuracy of Luke's account and providing a crucial anchor for the chronology of Paul's ministry. Gallio’s prompt and decisive ruling was typical of effective Roman administrators who prioritised efficient governance and the clear application of law. His stance, not interfering in theological matters, ironically facilitated the growth of Christianity by inadvertently distinguishing it, in the eyes of Roman law, from the kind of subversive activities Rome actually punished, demonstrating divine providence working through earthly means.

Acts 18 15 Commentary

Acts 18:15 stands as a significant moment in the early narrative of Christianity's interaction with the Roman Empire. Gallio, as a sagacious Roman proconsul, wisely discerned the true nature of the charges against Paul. The Jewish accusation, that Paul was persuading people to worship God "contrary to the law," was essentially a theological dispute disguised as a criminal charge. The "words" related to Christian doctrine (e.g., Jesus' resurrection, justification by faith); "names" referred to the profound implications of Jesus' identity as Messiah and Lord, which directly challenged Jewish theological frameworks; and "your own law" signified the Mosaic Law, the covenant, and Jewish tradition, which Paul was perceived to be subverting.

Gallio’s decision reflects Roman pragmatic policy: maintain peace and order, administer Roman law, but avoid entanglement in local religious controversies unless they clearly incited public disorder or violated imperial statutes. He recognized that the "law" Paul allegedly violated was not Roman law, but the specific religious code of the Jewish community. By refusing to act as a judge in "such things," Gallio essentially ruled that Paul’s activities, while controversial among Jews, did not constitute a crimen (a criminal offense) under Roman jurisdiction.

This was an unintended divine provision for the fledgling Christian movement. By tacitly treating Christianity as an internal Jewish dispute (or at least not as a new, illicit cult), Gallio’s ruling created a crucial window of opportunity for the unhindered propagation of the gospel. It temporarily offered Christianity the shield of Judaism's religio licita status, preventing early Roman persecution based on the religious content of Christian preaching. It showcases how God, even through secular authorities and their limited understanding of spiritual truth, can orchestrate events to protect His people and further His kingdom's purposes, ensuring the spread of His word without political interference during a critical formative period.