Berean Standard Bible
Acts 18:14
14But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.
Acts 18:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
- New International Version (NIV)Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you.
Context of Acts 18:14
12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat. 13“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said. But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint. 15But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.” 16And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
Read all of Acts 18Acts 18:14 word by word
Μέλλοντος δὲ τοῦ Παύλου ἀνοίγειν τὸ στόμα εἶπεν ὁ Γαλλίων πρὸς τοὺς Ἰουδαίους· εἰ μὲν ἦν ἀδίκημά τι ἢ ῥᾳδιούργημα πονηρόν, ὦ Ἰουδαῖοι, κατὰ λόγον ἂν ἀνεσχόμην ὑμῶν·Read the interlinear
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- was aboutμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
- to speakἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455
- to speakστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
- GallioΓαλλίωνGalliōn · GallioG1058
- toldεἶπονepō · to sayG2036
- toldπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- Ifεἰei · ifG1487
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- this matter involvedεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- aτιςtis · oneG5100
- wrongdoingἀδίκημαadikēma · crimeG92
- orἤē · orG2228
- viciousπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
- crimeῥᾳδιούργημαrhadiourgēma · crimeG4467
- Oὦō · oh!G5599
- it would be reasonableκατάkata · according toG2596
- it would be reasonableλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- for me to hearἄνan · ifG302
- for me to hearἀνέχωanechomai · to endureG430
- yourσύsu · youG4771
Cross-references for Acts 18:14
- Acts 21:39But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”
- Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
- Acts 26:1Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
- Luke 21:12But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
- 1 Peter 3:14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
- Acts 23:27This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
- Acts 25:11If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
- Acts 13:18He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.
- Mark 9:19“O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”
- Romans 13:3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.
- 2 Corinthians 11:1I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.
- Hebrews 5:2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness.
Commentaries on Acts 18:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Paul was now about to open his mouth - He was about to enter on his defense; but Gallio, perceiving that the prosecution was through envy and malice, would not put Paul to any farther trouble, but determined the matter as follows. If it were a matter of wrong - , Of injustice; any thing contrary to the rights of the subject. Or wicked lewdness - ̔ͅ , Destructive mischief. (See the note on Acts 13:10, where the word is explained.) Something by which the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14About to open his mouth - In self-defense, ever ready to vindicate his conduct. A matter of wrong - Injustice, or crime, such as could be properly brought before a court of justice. Or wicked lewdness - Any flagrant and gross offence. The word used here occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It denotes properly an act committed by him who is skilled, facile, or an adept in iniquity an act of a veteran offender. Such crimes Gallio was willing to take…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 Paul was about to show that he did not teach men to worship God contrary to law; but the judge would not allow the Jews to complain to him of what was not within his office. It was right in Gallio that he left the Jews to themselves in matters relating to their religion, but yet would not let them, under pretence of that, persecute another. But it was wrong to speak slightly of a law and religion which he might have known to be of God, and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-17Gallio’s ruling indicated that the charges against Paul were unjustified. The Roman government had nothing to fear from acknowledging Christianity as a legal religion.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1712-17. when Gallio was the deputy--"the proconsul." See on Ac 13:7. He was brother to the celebrated philosopher Seneca, the tutor of Nero, who passed sentence of death on both.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 18:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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