Acts 18:14-16
New English Translation
14 But just as Paul was about to speak,[a] Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or serious piece of villainy,[b] I would have been justified in accepting the complaint[c] of you Jews,[d] 15 but since it concerns points of disagreement[e] about words and names and your own law, settle[f] it yourselves. I will not be[g] a judge of these things!” 16 Then he had them forced away[h] from the judgment seat.[i]
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- Acts 18:14 tn Grk “about to open his mouth” (an idiom).
- Acts 18:14 tn BDAG 902 s.v. ῥᾳδιούργημα states, “From the sense ‘prank, knavery, roguish trick, slick deed’ it is but a short step to that of a serious misdeed, crime, villainy…a serious piece of villainy Ac 18:14 (w. ἀδίκημα).”
- Acts 18:14 tn According to BDAG 78 s.v. ἀνέχω 3 this is a legal technical term: “Legal t.t. κατὰ λόγον ἂν ἀνεσχόμην ὑμῶν I would have been justified in accepting your complaint Ac 18:14.”
- Acts 18:14 tn Grk “accepting your complaint, O Jews.”
- Acts 18:15 tn Or “dispute.”
- Acts 18:15 tn Grk “see to it” (an idiom).
- Acts 18:15 tn Or “I am not willing to be.” Gallio would not adjudicate their religious dispute.
- Acts 18:16 tn Grk “driven away,” but this could result in a misunderstanding in English (“driven” as in a cart or wagon?). “Forced away” conveys the idea; Gallio rejected their complaint. In contemporary English terminology the case was “thrown out of court.” The verb ἀπήλασεν (apēlasen) has been translated as a causative since Gallio probably did not perform this action in person, but ordered his aides or officers to remove the plaintiffs.
- Acts 18:16 sn See the note on the term judgment seat in 18:12.
Acts 18:14-16
English Standard Version
14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious (A)crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But (B)since it is a matter of questions about words and names and (C)your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal.
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Acts 18:14-16
New King James Version
14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 15 But if it is a (A)question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16 And he drove them from the judgment seat.
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