English Standard Version
Acts 18:14
14But 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case.
Context of Acts 18:14
12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law." 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. 15But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things." 16And he drove them from the tribunal.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- when Paulὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- when PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- was now aboutμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
- to openἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455
- mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
- GallioΓαλλίωνGalliōn · GallioG1058
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- Ifεἰei · ifG1487
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- ·οὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- it wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- a matterτιςtis · oneG5100
- of wrongἀδίκημαadikēma · crimeG92
- orἤē · orG2228
- wickedπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
- lewdnessῥᾳδιούργημαrhadiourgēma · crimeG4467
- Oὦō · oh!G5599
- reasonλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- would thatκατάkata · according toG2596
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- I should bearἀνέχωanechomai · to endureG430
- with youσύsu · youG4771
Cross-references for Acts 18:14
- Acts 21:39Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people."
- Acts 22:1"Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you."
- Acts 26:1So Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
- Luke 21:12But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.
- 1 Peter 3:14But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
- Acts 23:27This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.
- Acts 25:11If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."
- Acts 13:18And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.
- Mark 9:19And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me."
- Romans 13:3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
- 2 Corinthians 11:1I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me!
- Hebrews 5:2He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with 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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