Paul in Greece – Gallio

Read: Acts 18:12-17 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/acts/18.html)
 
Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus helps us get our most accurate date in the life of the apostle Paul. Gallio served as the proconsul of the newly created senatorial province of Achaea in 51 and 52 AD. He apparently resigned his governorship and returned to Rome for health reasons. Gallio died in Rome 13 years later.
 
Paul had a falling out with some of the Jewish leaders in Corinth and said to them, “Whatever happens to you will be your own fault! I am not to blame. From now on I am going to preach to the Gentiles.” Paul then stopped living with Aquila & Priscilla and moved into the home of Titius Justus, who lived next door to the Jewish meeting place. But that was not the biggest blow to the egos of the Jewish leaders who did not like Paul. The biggest blow came when Crispus, the leader of the Jewish meeting place, became a believer in Jesus Christ. Crispus, his whole family, and many other people in Corinth put their faith in the Lord.
 
Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months. Gallio served as governor there for about two years. There was a time when Paul and Gallio were both living in Corinth at the same time. During that time some of the Jewish leaders grabbed Paul and took him to the Roman marketplace where there was a raised platform called a bema where government officials would give public speeches and hear legal cases. Gallio was there and the Jewish leaders told him, “This man is trying to make our people worship God in a way that is against our Law!” Gallio did not even allow Paul to speak in his own defense but refused to hear the case because it did not concern Roman law and so it did not concern him.
 
People do not act the way we want them to act. How do you cope with that?