Mistrial in Corinth


Details like this remind us of a couple things. Most importantly, they reinforce the fact that these are historical events. The life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus REALLY happened! We don't worship myth or legend. Jesus was (and IS) a real Person who appears on the pages of history.


Second, it reminds us of the accuracy of Dr. Luke as a historian. Time and time again, archaeology has uncovered evidence confirming details in both of his volumes. The good doctor reassures his recipient that what he has written is "an orderly account" (Lk 1:3).


The author tells us that during Gallio's service in Achaia, "the Jews made an attack on Paul, and brought him before the tribunal" (v12). The Greek verb here is katephistemi. It's a compound word that means to come up (ephistemi) against (kata). This word is used just this once in the NT. But it describes the use of sudden physical force against someone that flows from a hostile attitude. And the inclusion of the Greek adverb homothumadon informs the reader that the Jews were united in their actions.


Think of a mob, fired up in their hatred of Paul, dragging him to sheriff. They bring the accused "before the tribunal" (v12). This is actual the Greek word bema. The bema seat is a place of judgment in the Greek and Roman world. Local officials would make rulings from here. It is a reminder that we will all come before the bemaof Christ (Rom 14:10; 2Cor 5:10).


The Jews charge Paul with "persuading people to worship God contrary to the law" (v13). Before we examine Gallio's ruling, the charge is false. Paul was not preaching against the Law. He was explaining how Messiah Jesus actually and completely FULFILLED the Law (Acts 18:5). He was, however, persuading people to worship contrary to the traditions of men. And that's why these Jews were so very upset.


Before Paul could utter one word in his own defense, Gallio throws out the case (v14-15). This isn't a matter for the bema. There is no crime here. There is no felony. They don't need to say anything else to the proconsul. Their charges against the man from Tarsus don't fall under his jurisdiction.


Gallio goes on to say that this is simply "a matter about words and names and your own law" (v15). They should handle it themselves. He sees this as simply a family squabble. They should have never even wasted his time in coming to court. "I refuse to be a judge of these things." With that, "he drove them from the tribunal" (v16). Mistrial. Case closed. Court dismissed.


At this point, something even uglier happens. "And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal" (v17). Sosthenes was a key leader in the Corinthian synagogue with Crispus. You'll remember that Crispus has already believed Paul's message of Messiah Jesus (Acts 18:8).

The crowd turns on Sosthenes. It seems that once Gallio ruled in Paul's favor, the crowd wanted blood. Their leader had rallied them together to bring the apostle before the bema. And now the proconsul wouldn't even hear the case. They were furious with Sosthenes and begin to beat the living daylights out of him. Luke tells us that "Gallio paid no attention to any of this" (v17).


At some point, Sosthenes becomes a follower of Jesus. When Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthian church from Ephesus, Sosthenes is at his side (1Cor 1:1). The case can be made that Sosthenes was indeed one of the "many people in this city" that Jesus told Paul about. God may well have us right where we are in order to tell a certain someone about our Savior.

Created 4 months ago