New King James Version
Acts 18:14
14And 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.
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 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
12When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, 13saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” 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. 15But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16And he drove them 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
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 21:39But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”
- Acts 22:1“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”
- Acts 26:1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
- Luke 21:12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
- 1 Peter 3:14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
- Acts 23:27This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
- Acts 25:11For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
- Acts 13:18Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness.
- Mark 9:19He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”
- Romans 13:3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
- 2 Corinthians 11:1Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me.
- Hebrews 5:2He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries