Acts 18:12

"But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat"Gallio" Here is another instance in which the reader should be impressed that the events mentioned in the Bible actually took place in real history. "Gallio and his brother Seneca were born in Cordova, Spain, and their father brought them to Rome in the reign of Tiberius. Gallio's real name was Marcus Annaeus Novatus; but after his arrival in Rome he was adopted by the rhetorician Lucius Junius Gallio. Several ancient writers note the fact that he had. remarkably mild and easy-going disposition. An inscription found at Delphi places him in office at Corinth in the year 52 A.D" (Reese p. 647). "He was the younger brother of Seneca, the Stoic philosopher and tutor of the youthful Nero, and Seneca spoke appreciatively of his brother's tolerant kindness" (Stott p. 299). "Proconsul" "Luke is correct to call Gallio proconsul, since Achaia was at this time. senatorial province of the Empire, and therefore governed by. proconsul--as opposed to an imperial province, which was governed by. legate. The province's status had changed only in A.D. 44" (Stott p. 299). Thus we again find that Luke is minutely accurate in his account. "There were two types of provinces in the Roman empire. If there was an army in the province to keep law and order, the province answered to the Emperor, and was governed by. Governor (procurator). If there was no army in the province, the province answered to the Roman Senate, and was governed by. Proconsul" (Reese p. xv).

One writer noted, "If the Bible were. fictitious account we would expect to find errors throughout. One of the best places to trip up the writers would be in their description of the land in which these events are said to have taken place" Acts 18:1 The same would be true concerning the "political" description of the times, yet in all these details the Biblical writers are always accurate. Therefore, if the Biblical account is minutely accurate in all those places in which we can verify it, then it must be accurate in those things which we cannot presently verify, such as heaven and hell.

Acts 18:12 "Jews with one accord rose up against Paul" "A combined attack" (TCNT). It appears that this plan had been in the works for some time and now the Jews felt they had the opening they needed."It was very likely that when Gallio first entered into his proconsulship the Jews attempted to get him to act against the Christians. They tried to influence him before he was settled in" (Barclay p. 148). "Either the Jews were taking advantage of Gallio's easy-going disposition, or else there has recently been. change of men at the top post of government in Achaia--and the Jews try to take advantage of the new and inexperienced man to get at Paul" (Reese p. 648). "Brought him before the judgment seat" "On certain days each week, the Roman officials held court sessions in the market place, presiding from. raised platform, called 'bema' in the Greek. This raised platform is still visible among the ruins of ancient Corinth.. portable chair, called. curule, was carried to the platform, covered with. purple cloth; when the proconsul had seated himself on the chair, court was in session" (Reese p. 648).