Acts 18:17

17 So they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, [and] began beating [him] in front of the judgment seat. And none of these [things] was a concern to Gallio.

Acts 18:17 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 18:17

Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes
These were not the Greeks or Gentiles that were devout persons, or converted to Christianity, and were on the side of Paul, and fell foul on Sosthenes, as being his chief accuser; for this is not agreeably to the spirit and character of such persons, but the profane and unconverted Greeks, who observing that Gallio sent the Jews away, with some resentment and contempt, were encouraged to fall upon the principal of them, and use him in a very ill manner; it is very likely that this person was afterwards converted, and is the same that is mentioned in ( 1 Corinthians 1:1 ) . The name is Greek, and there is one of this name mentioned among the executors of Plato's will ^F23. This man was now

chief ruler of the synagogue;
chosen in, very likely, upon Crispus becoming a Christian, and being baptized:

and beat him before the judgment seat;
of Gallio; before he and his friends could get out of court:

and Gallio cared for none of these things;
which might not be owing to any sluggishness in him, but to an ill opinion he had of the Jews, as being a turbulent and uneasy people, and therefore he connived at some of the insolencies of the people towards them; though it did not become him, as a magistrate, to act such a part, whose business it was to keep the public peace, to quell disorders, to protect men's persons, and property, and prevent abuse and mischief, and to correct and punish for it. The Arabic version renders it, "and no man made any account of Gallio"; they did not fear his resentment, he having drove the Jews from the judgment seat.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 Laert. l. 3. in Vita Platon.

Acts 18:17 In-Context

15 But if it is questions concerning a word and names and {your own law}, see to [it] yourselves! I do not wish to be a judge of these [things]."

16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

17 So they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, [and] began beating [him] in front of the judgment seat. And none of these [things] was a concern to Gallio.

18 So Paul, [after] remaining many days longer, said farewell to the brothers [and] sailed away to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved [his] head at Cenchrea, because he had [taken] a vow.

19 So they arrived at Ephesus, and those he left behind there, but he himself entered into the synagogue [and] discussed with the Jews.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("seized") has been translated as a finite verb
• [b]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began beating")
• [c]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation