Gallio [Găl'lĭō]—he that sucks. The Roman proconsul of Achia, the elder brother of Seneca, described by Seneca as a man of extreme amiability of character (Acts 18:12, 14, 17).

The Man with a Righteous Carelessness

The antagonistic Jews of Corinth brought Paul before Gallio, charging the apostle with having persuaded men to “worship God contrary to the law” (v. 13). But when Gallio realized that Paul was not guilty of “villainy,” but only of questions which the Jews as a self-administering community were competent to decide for themselves, he dismissed them, saying he “cared for none of those things,” meaning questions concerning Jewish law. Because of his statement, Gallio has been crowned with a condemnation he does not deserve. His apparent carelessness proves:

I. There are more important concerns in life than the settlement of frivolous and petty disputes.

II. There should be that determination not to meddle needlessly in other men’s affairs. It is folly to judge questions we do not understand.

III. There should be patience, leaving trifling wrongs to arrange and compose themselves. Blessed are the peacemakers.

IV. There should be the firm resolve to be just and impartial rather than to curry favor and win thereby a little passing popularity. Righteousness should always be placed above policy. Thus we can learn from Gallio’s attitude lessons both profitable and wise.