Charles Spurgeon Commentary Acts 18:13-15

"saying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villany, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 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." — Acts 18:13-15 (ASV)

Persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, 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.

I dare say you have heard Gallio condemned. They used to say in prayer, "Such and such a person went on, like Gallio, caring for none of these things"; but in truth Gallio does not deserve to be so condemned.

It is no business of the civil magistrate to inquire into the religions of the people brought before him. It is out of his province.

He was quite right when he said, 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. If the kings and queens of this world had been half as sensible as Gallio, there had been no stakes in Smithfield and no prisons to lock up the Puritans. Religion would be let alone, which is the one thing it wants—free church and free state.

We want neither the governor's help, nor the governor's hindrance.

If he will kindly let us alone, it is all we ask from him; and so far Gallio is to be commended. But I do not think he acted thus out of any intelligent scruples on that point. He is to be condemned because of the motive.

No doubt he was indifferent, and here may none of us imitate him. That he was indifferent and careless is certain, for he did not do his duty. It was his duty to let this good man alone, but it was also his duty not to allow the Gentiles, on the other hand, to begin beating the Jews. If there is six of one, there should be half a dozen of the other, and so we do not admire him when we read,