Acts 18:9-17

9One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid anymore, but go on speaking and do not be silent;

10for I am with you, and no one will attack you in order to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.”

11So he settled there for a year and six months, teaching them the word of God [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].

12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia (southern Greece), the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,

13declaring, “This man is persuading people to worship God in violation of the law [of Moses].”

14But when Paul was about to reply, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some misdemeanor or serious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to put up with you;

15but since it is merely a question [of doctrine within your religion] about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I am unwilling to judge these matters.”

16And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

17Then the Greeks all seized Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him right in front of the judgment seat; but Gallio paid no attention to any of this.