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for the battles of life. The immediate needs, the present trials, of
struggling souls—these must be met with sound, practical instruction
in the fundamental principles of Christianity.
Paul’s efforts in Corinth were not without fruit. Many turned from
the worship of idols to serve the living God, and a large church was
enrolled under the banner of Christ. Some were rescued from among
the most dissipated of the Gentiles and became monuments of the
mercy of God and the efficacy of the blood of Christ to cleanse from
sin.
The increased success that Paul had in presenting Christ, roused the
unbelieving Jews to more determined opposition. They rose in a body
and “made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him
to the judgment seat” of Gallio, who was then proconsul of Achaia.
They expected that the authorities, as on former occasions, would side
with them; and with loud, angry voices they uttered their complaints
against the apostle, saying, “This fellow persuadeth men to worship
God contrary to the law.”
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The Jewish religion was under the protection of the Roman power,
and the accusers of Paul thought that if they could fasten upon him the
charge of violating the laws of their religion, he would probably be
delivered to them for trial and sentence. They hoped thus to compass
his death. But Gallio was a man of integrity, and he refused to become
the dupe of the jealous, intriguing Jews. Disgusted with their bigotry
and self-righteousness, he would take no notice of the charge. As
Paul prepared to speak in self-defense, Gallio told him that it was not
necessary. Then turning to the angry accusers, he said, “If it were a
matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I
should bear with you: but if it be a question of words and names, and
of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And
he drave them from the judgment seat.”
Both Jews and Greeks had waited eagerly for Gallio’s decision;
and his immediate dismissal of the case, as one that had no bearing
upon the public interest, was the signal for the Jews to retire, baffled
and angry. The proconsul’s decided course opened the eyes of the
clamorous crowd who had been abetting the Jews. For the first time
during Paul’s labors in Europe, the mob turned to his side; under the
very eye of the proconsul, and without interference from him, they
violently beset the most prominent accusers of the apostle. “All the