It is not always the case where people in authority, who are decidedly not Christian, stand in support of Christians. Having said this, we need to understand that within the Sovereignty of God, He exercises Lordship and Reign over all the earth. Sometime what comes to pass is by His foreordained will and at other time it is through His permissive will. His permissive will in brief is that he permits people to do things, at times the worst things possible, such as Putin’s war against the Ukraine and in some way it shall bring Him glory. Such shall be accountable and are responsible for their actions. Within the heartache, pain, suffering, death, huge costs … God permits the wicked, in the case Putin, to engage in an unjust war. We might not understand the spiritual and eternal dynamics about it, but God shall hold Putin and his supporters, followers and allies accountable, as He had and will do in every war … and He will be glorified. Just because we can’t understand and answer the why question does not mean God has lost the plot. In fact, He is very much in control. Remember:
Dt 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
Trying to understand God’s permissive will is God’s secret business and not ours. Our business is what has been revealed … and this is His Word. Within our reading today we find something happening that some might bracket under God’s permissive will and others under God’s foreordained will. Please read:
Ac 18:12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 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 the Jews, “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 had them ejected from the court. 17 Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
1) Reflecting on what has happened. We saw in our Note yesterday that the Jews from the Corinthian synagogue rose up against Paul and hauled him before Gallio, the proconsul. Their charge against Paul was that he was … persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law. In other words, they said Paul taught those who left the synagogue to worship God differently to the way the Jews worship God. Before we get to Gallio, we ought to recall that the Jews, although they were God’s chosen people, were apostate! Their relationship with God was a ritual and largely idolatrous. The Christian religion Paul brought to them was knowing God personally through His Son, Jesus Christ. They, through repentance and faith could enjoy knowing God personally and having a personal relationship with Him. The Old Covenant was obsolete; the priesthood, although continuing, was ended; animal sacrificing had ended and now man could go directly to God through Christ the true High Priest, for salvation and forgiveness of sin. The difference in worship was one of dead rituals and an alive relationship. Anyone wanting to worship God needs to do so according to the New Covenant in Jesus’ Blood, otherwise there is not relationship and no relationship means no true worship. Having said that, we know that the Jews motivation was more out of spite and jealousy because they had and were losing members to Christianity … and Paul was too blame. If they could get rid of Paul, the losses would stop, they thought!
2) A wise judge.
Ac 18:14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “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 had them ejected from the court.
(1) Paul wanted a right of reply, but as he was about to state his case, Gallio spoke up. Paul, being wise and god fearing backed off.
(2) Gallio was the authority. The Jews would have to accept his verdict or decision whether they liked it or not.
(3) Gallio’s address to the Jews went like this …
(i) Is your charge against Paul because he committed a crime or crimes against the Roman Empire’s laws?
(ii) The words “misdemeanor” and “serious crimes” suggest behavior such as “dishonest, worthless, unscrupulous, malicious, criminal plus evil, devilry and acts of the devil”.
(iii) Although Gallio and the Roman Empire were not Christian, if what he said includes “evil and devilry”, perhaps for religious reasons, one can see his court would not entertain friction between what he saw as two rival religions where no crime against the Roman Empire or its citizens were committed.
(4) Correctly Gallio read the charge against Paul as a “religious law” and not a “state law” and threw them and their case out. The word “eject” seems to include being chased out of his court room because they wasted his time.
3) A gracious God. God makes promises and fulfills them. He does not lie by saying one thing and doing another. He is trustworthy! He made a promised to Paul:
Ac 18:9 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.”
What had happen in Thessalonica and Berea would not happened to Paul in Corinth … that was God’s promise to him. So, was Gallio’s actions part of God’s permissive will or foreordained will? May I suggest that the Jews taking him captive to Gallio’s court was God’s permissive will and Gallio’s ruling was God’s foreordained will? Why? Because God promised Paul that no one would attack and harm him. God has made many promises to us His children. Consider these verses and if you have time read the passages around them:
Mt 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
For us … the body, although important and we need to care for it, is not as important as the soul which lives forever! With this in mind, think through and enjoy:
Ro 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us? … 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? … 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? … 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thank You, Lord, that Your foreordained will is that You safely guide all your people through this life and death into Your eternal home, where we shall live with You forever. Amen.