Acts 18:14

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:
• 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.
• 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

12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13“This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” 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. 15But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16So he drove them off.

Acts 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 answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”
• Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”
• Acts 26:1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense:
• Luke 21:12“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.
• 1 Peter 3:14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
• Acts 23:27This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.
• Acts 25:11If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
• Acts 13:18for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness;
• Mark 9:19“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
• Romans 13:3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
• 2 Corinthians 11:1I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me!
• Hebrews 5:2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, 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

• Gallio
• Indictments
• Nolle Prosequi
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Paul
• Paul, Saul
• Baptism
• Bear
• Blood
• Clean
• Convince
• Corinth
• Feel
• James

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