another trial under Roman law

Good morning everyone,
We've seen both Paul and his opponents try to use Roman power to strengthen their position. Here we see a new angle on the issue. Gallio really doesn't care about who's right or wrong and he fairly contemptuous of his Jewish subjects. Judaism was a tolerated religion in the Roman Empire, but many Romans still held strong prejudices against Jews for being different. Those feelings come out here when Gallio says, "If it were a matter of crime or serious villainy, I would be justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews..." While it still may be good strategy for Christians or Jews to bring Rome into the fight, they are making common cause with someone who doesn't care much about them.

As a new and growing faith Christianity has interesting terrain to navigate. Rome can be a friend or foe but mostly comes into the picture at this stage only because the Roman infrastructure made travel and thus evangelism much easier and safer than it would have been. As it happens, the evangelism among the gentiles leads to such growth that within another 50-100 years Rome will start to see Christianity as a threat and will take measures against it. Christianity today has interesting terrain to navigate as well and our mission will take creativity and faith to accomplish. We will succeed in sharing God's good news because God is with us.

Blessings,
Sam


Acts 18:12-23
12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal. 13They said, “This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law.” 14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of crime or serious villainy, I would be justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews; 15but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.” 16And he dismissed them from the tribunal. 17Then all of them seized Sosthenes, the official of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of these things.

18After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the believers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut, for he was under a vow. 19When they reached Ephesus, he left them there, but first he himself went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. 20When they asked him to stay longer, he declined; 21but on taking leave of them, he said, “I will return to you, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.