Greater Men and Women of the Bible by James Hastings: 654. Gallio

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Greater Men and Women of the Bible by James Hastings: 654. Gallio


Subjects in this Topic:



Gallio



Literature



Ainger, A., The Gospel and Human Life (1904), 241.

Banks, L. A., Paul and his Friends (1898), 97.

Burrell, D. J., God and the People (1899), 330.

Buss, S., Roman Law and History in the New Testament (1901), 285.

Farrar, F. W., Seekers after God (1891), 16.

Maclaren, A., Expositions: The Acts of the Apostles xiii.-end (1907), 165.

Norton, J. N., Old Paths (1880), 418.

Potter, H. C., Sermons of the City (1880), 66.

Ramsay, W. M., St. Paul the Traveller (1895), 257.

Seekings, H. S., The Men of the Pauline Circle (1914), 211.

Smellie, A., In the Hour of Silence (1899), 61.

Stokes, G. T., The Acts of the Apostles (Expositor's Bible), ii. (1892) 325.

Vaughan, C. J., Sundays in the Temple (1871), 20.

Christian World Pulpit, xlix. (1896) 52 (F. C. Spurr).

Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, i. (1915) 439 (J. E. Roberts).

Dictionary of the Bible, ii. (1899) 105 (H. Cowan).



Gallio



And Gallio cared for none of these things.- Act_18:17.



Gallio, the proconsul of the Roman province of Achaia, has been subjected, like many other characters of history, to certain marked changes in public estimation. He has been over-abused and over-praised, over-attacked and over-defended. It has been, perhaps, to the accident of the use of a particular word in the English translation that his ordinary reputation has been due. “He cared for none of these things” is an ambiguous phrase, including, no doubt, the indifference of a sceptic as well as the impatience of a judge towards matters over which he has no jurisdiction. There is nothing in the Greek words to exclude either interpretation. But then there is nothing to decide for one rather than for the other; and it is hard upon the Roman judge that the epithet “careless,” so easily formed out of the phrase “cared nothing,” should have become so associated with his name that he has become almost a byword for the most unfavourable view that can be taken of his character.



It is only too easy to jump to a popular conclusion without investigating the case in question, but in doing so may we not be guilty of that very carelessness with which we charge Gallio-a carelessness of justice and of truth? Let us see if we can form a just estimate of this man from what we know of him in contemporary history and literature, and from St. Luke's narrative in the Acts.