Acts 18:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The crowd seizes Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beats him in front of the tribunal, while Gallio looks on unmoved.
What Does Acts 18:17 Mean?
Sosthenes has succeeded Crispus, or served beside him, as ruler of the synagogue. With the case thrown out, the Greek crowd turns on him, beating the leader of the failed accusers at the foot of the judgment seat, and Gallio will not stir himself to stop it.
Gallio's indifference protected Paul one moment and permitted cruelty the next; human justice at its best is a thin shelter. Yet the story may not end in bruises. When Paul later writes to the church at Corinth, he opens the letter beside a companion named Sosthenes, our brother. If this is the same man, the one beaten that day was afterward won by the Christ he had opposed, and grace had the final word.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 18:17
What does Acts 18:17 mean?
The crowd seizes Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beats him in front of the tribunal, while Gallio looks on unmoved.