Acts 18:12-17

Gallio and Paul. Gallio's proconsulship is fixed by an inscription at Delphi which came to light in 1905; and gives an absolute date in Pauline chronology (p. 655). He had not been proconsul when Paul came to Corinth (Acts 18:12); his arrival in Achaia is found to have been after midsummer (A.D. 51), while Paul came there early in 50. Gallio was the brother of the philosopher Seneca, who describes him as sweet (dulcis), and was a man of the highest culture. After his arrival the Jews brought Paul before him on the same charge as that made at Philippi (Acts 16:21) and at Thessalonica (Acts 17:7), that he preached an illegal religion. Gallio at once decides that as no punishable act is alleged, he will not enter on discussion as to a doctrine and a controversy about persons and the Jewish Law, and so dismisses the case. The attack made by the Jews drew down the wrath of the populace (D has all the Greeks). Sosthenes (not he of 1 Corinthians 1:1) has to suffer for it; Gallio continues in his attitude of indifference to such squabbles.

From 1818 to 1920 we have a set of anecdotes mostly connected with Ephesus and hanging loosely together.