18:12,13
The Jews did continue to attack Paul, but their attacks came to nought. The Jews made an attack on Paul, bringing him before the proconsul. Note Luke’s interest in historical detail. These are accounts of real events. They accused Paul of seeking to persuade “people to worship God in ways contrary to the law”. The Roman empire allowed certain religions, and the Jews had some dispensations.
18:14-17
Paul was about to speak, but the proconsul, Gallio, intervened, and effectively on Paul’s behalf. Gallio had no interest in what he saw as the niceties of Jewish religion, and was aware of what the Jews were doing. Moreover, with the expulsion of the Jews from Rome, he may well have viewed them as troublemakers. So he tells them to sort the matter out for themselves. The crowd, fickle as always, saw the way the wind was now blowing, and so turned on Sosthenes, the synagogue leader and beat him up. This was all done in front of Gallio, but he turned a blind eye. So God’s word to Paul was proved true. Note, however, that there were times when Paul did suffer as a result of attacks, but these are in God’s hands.1 Cor 1:1 mentions a Sosthenes, this may or may not have been the same person as mentioned here.
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