Acts 18:15

Verse

But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”

American Standard Version (1901)

but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; I am not minded to be a judge of these matters.

Bible in Basic English

But if it is a question of words or names or of your law, see to it yourselves; I will not be a judge of such things.

Douay-Rheims 1899

But if they be questions of word and names, and of your law, look you to it: I will not be judge of such things.

Free Bible Version

But since you're only arguing over words and names and your own law, then you deal with it yourselves. I won't rule on such matters.”

Geneva Bible 1599

But if it bee a question of woordes, and names, and of your Lawe, looke yee to it your selues: for I will be no iudge of those things.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

Translation for Translators

However, you are merely arguing about words and names and your own Jewish laws, so you yourselves need to resolve this. I refuse to judge these things!”

Unlocked Literal Bible

But since these are questions about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.”

Noah Webster Bible

But if it is a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it : for I will be no judge of such matters .

World English Bible

but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don’t want to be a judge of these matters.”

Young's Literal Translation

but if it is a question concerning words and names, and of your law, look ye yourselves [to it], for a judge of these things I do not wish to be,'

Context

Paul before Gallio

¹⁴But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.¹⁵But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”¹⁶And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

Summary

In Acts 18:15, we see a legal dispute between the Jews and the apostle Paul being brought before Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia. Gallio dismisses the case, refusing to be a judge in matters of Jewish religious law. This event demonstrates God's providential care for His servants, as Paul is protected from unjust persecution through the intervention of a secular ruler. It also illustrates the principle of not wasting time on fruitless arguments or legal battles that distract from the mission of spreading the Gospel.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

But if it be a question of words - Περι λογου, Concerning doctrine and names - whether the person called Jesus be the person you call the Messiah. And of your law - any particular nicety, concerning that law which is peculiar to yourselves: Look ye to it - settle the business among yourselves; the Roman government does not meddle with such matters, and I will not take upon me to - decide in a case that does not concern my office. As if he had said: "The Roman laws give religious liberty to Jews and Greeks; but, if controversies arise among you on these subjects, decide them among yourselves, or dispute about them as much as you please." A better answer could not be given by man; and it was highly becoming the acknowledged meekness, gentleness, and benevolence of this amiable man. He concluded that the state had no right to control any man's religious opinion; that was between the object of his worship and his own conscience; and therefore he was not authorized to intermeddle with subjects of this nature, which the law left to every man's private judgment. Had all the rulers of the people in every country acted as this sensible and benevolent Roman, laws against liberty of conscience, concerning religious persecution, would not be found to be, as they not are, blots and disgraces on the statute books of almost all the civilized nations of Europe.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And he drave them from the judgment seat. He would not hear, and try the cause; but dismissed them with threatening them, if ever they brought an affair of that kind to him any more. And he drave them from the judgment seat. He would not hear, and try the cause; but dismissed them with threatening them, if ever they brought an affair of that kind to him any more. Acts 18:17 act 18:17 act 18:17 act 18:17Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes,.... These were not the Greeks or Gentiles that were devout persons, or converted to Christianity, and were on the side of Paul, and fell foul on Sosthenes, as being his chief accuser; for this is not agreeably to the spirit and character of such persons, but the profane and unconverted Greeks, who observing that Gallio sent the Jews away, with some resentment and contempt, were encouraged to fall upon the principal of them, and use him in a very ill manner; it is very likely that this person was afterwards converted, and is the same that is mentioned in Co1 1:1. The name is Greek, and there is one of this name mentioned among the executors of Plato's will (w). This man was now chief ruler of the synagogue; chosen in, very likely, upon Crispus becoming a Christian, and being baptized: and beat him before the judgment seat; of Gallio; before he and his friends could get out of court: and Gallio cared for none of these things; which might not be owing to any sluggishness in him, but to an ill opinion he had of the Jews, as being a turbulent and uneasy people, and therefore he connived at some of the insolencies of the people towards them; though it did not become him, as a magistrate, to act such a part, whose business it was to keep the public peace, to quell disorders, to protect men's persons, and property, and prevent abuse and mischief, and to correct and punish for it. The Arabic version renders it, "and no man made any account of Gallio"; they did not fear his resentment, he having drove the Jews from the judgment seat. (w) Laert. l. 3. in Vita Platon.

Acts 18:15

Paul before Gallio

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”

American Standard Version (1901)

but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; I am not minded to be a judge of these matters.

Bible in Basic English

But if it is a question of words or names or of your law, see to it yourselves; I will not be a judge of such things.

Douay-Rheims 1899

But if they be questions of word and names, and of your law, look you to it: I will not be judge of such things.

Free Bible Version

But since you're only arguing over words and names and your own law, then you deal with it yourselves. I won't rule on such matters.”

Geneva Bible 1599

But if it bee a question of woordes, and names, and of your Lawe, looke yee to it your selues: for I will be no iudge of those things.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

Translation for Translators

However, you are merely arguing about words and names and your own Jewish laws, so you yourselves need to resolve this. I refuse to judge these things!”

Unlocked Literal Bible

But since these are questions about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.”

Noah Webster Bible

But if it is a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it : for I will be no judge of such matters .

World English Bible

but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don’t want to be a judge of these matters.”

Young's Literal Translation

but if it is a question concerning words and names, and of your law, look ye yourselves [to it], for a judge of these things I do not wish to be,'

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 18:15

Verse

Context

Paul before Gallio

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 18:15

Paul before Gallio

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary