Acts 18:14

14 Paul was about to say something, but Gallio spoke to the Jews, saying, "I would listen to you Jews if you were complaining about a crime or some wrong.

Acts 18:14 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 18:14

And when Paul was now about to open his mouth
In his own defence, and plead his own cause, and answer to the charge exhibited against him:

Gallio said unto the Jews, if it was matter of wrong;
of injury to any man's person or property, as murder, theft

or wicked lewdness;
as fraud, forgery, perjury, treason

O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
his sense is, that it would be according to right reason, and agreeably to his office as a judge, to admit them and their cause, and try it, and hear them patiently, and what was to be said on both sides of the question, what the charges were, and the proof of them, and what the defendant had to say for himself. The Vulgate Latin version reads, "O men Jews"; and so Beza's ancient copy.

Acts 18:14 In-Context

12 When Gallio was the governor of the country of Southern Greece, some of the Jews came together against Paul and took him to the court.

13 They said, "This man is teaching people to worship God in a way that is against our law."

14 Paul was about to say something, but Gallio spoke to the Jews, saying, "I would listen to you Jews if you were complaining about a crime or some wrong.

15 But the things you are saying are only questions about words and names -- arguments about your own law. So you must solve this problem yourselves. I don't want to be a judge of these things."

16 And Gallio made them leave the court.