Words and Names

Scripture:

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13“This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever. (Acts 18:9-17)

Observation:

At this time Paul is staying Corinth with Priscilla and Aquila working as a tent maker and preaching in the synagogues.  He causes an uproar among the Jews and declares to them "from now on I'm going to the gentiles".  And he did. This upset the Jews even more and they dragged Paul back to the proconsul Gallio.  He hears the case and tells them "This is about words and names and your own law.  This has nothing to do with me" and he ejects him from court.

As an aside: Because the Jews were governed by the Romans, they did not have the power of capitol punishment (which is why they took him before the proconsul who was a Roman official)

Application:

I keep getting stuck on the phrase Gallio used.  "Words and Names" he said.  What words do people use to describe us?  Are we associated with HIS name? 

Ideas and relationships are the clay, but words are the molds that cast those relationships and ideas into being.  Those words and names shape who we become and the laws we live under.

Gallio analysed the situation and basically decided that he didn't have authority to judge a law he didn't practice.  (That being Jewish law.)  So he ejected them from his court, sparing Paul a Roman execution at that time, just as his vision from verses 9 and 10 promised.

Prayer:

Lord, we live in easy times here in the states in this century.  Much of the danger that these early Christians went through are things we know on an intellectual level, but not a heart one.  We are nervous of embarrassment or loss of worldly reputation to speak, but most of us have never spoken for you at the risk of our lives.  My prayer for myself is that you would infuse my life with boldness to speak, and that you would those words with power.  Amen.