the Third Week after Easter
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使徒言行録 18:15
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalBible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
a question: Acts 23:29, Acts 25:11, Acts 25:19, Acts 26:3, 1 Timothy 1:4, 1 Timothy 6:4, 2 Timothy 2:23, Titus 3:9
look: Matthew 27:4, Matthew 27:24
for: Acts 24:6-8, John 18:31
Reciprocal: Exodus 18:16 - a matter 2 Samuel 19:29 - Why speakest Matthew 13:19 - and understandeth John 10:20 - why Acts 24:10 - a judge Acts 26:30 - the king 1 Corinthians 2:14 - they 1 Corinthians 6:1 - having
Gill's Notes on the Bible
But if it be a question of words,.... "Or of the word", what the Jews called the word of God, which Gallio did not pretend to understand: "and names"; as the names of God, of Jesus, and of Christ, whether he is God, and the Messiah:
and of your law; concerning circumcision, whether these Christians, and the proselytes they make, are obliged unto it:
look ye to it; suggesting that this was a matter that lay before them, and they were the proper judges of, and might determine for themselves, since they had the free exercise of their religion, and a right of judging of everything that respected that within themselves, and for which they were best furnished, as having a more competent knowledge of them; as the Arabic version renders it, "and ye are more learned in these things"; and most conversant with them:
for I will be no judge of such matters; and it would be well if every civil magistrate would act the same part, and not meddle with religious affairs, any further than to preserve the public peace.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Of words - A dispute about words, for such he would regard all their controversies about religion to be.
And names - Probably he had heard something of the nature of the controversy, and understood it to be a dispute about names; that is, whether Jesus was to be called the Messiah or not. To him this would appear as a matter pertaining to the Jews alone, and to be ranked with their other disputes arising from the difference of sect and name.
Of your law - A question respecting the proper interpretation of the Law, or the rites and ceremonies which it commanded. The Jews had many such disputes, and Gallio did not regard them as coming under his cognizance as a magistrate.
Look ye to it - Judge this among yourselves; settle the difficulty as you can. Compare John 18:31.
For I will be no judge ... - I do not regard such questions as pertaining to my office, or deem myself called on to settle them.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Acts 18:15. But if it be a question of words — περι λογου, Concerning doctrine and names - whether the person called Jesus be the person you call the Messiah. And of your law - any particular nicety, concerning that law which is peculiar to yourselves: Look ye to it - settle the business among yourselves; the Roman government does not meddle with such matters, and I will not take upon me to - decide in a case that does not concern my office. As if he had said: "The Roman laws give religious liberty to Jews and Greeks; but, if controversies arise among you on these subjects, decide them among yourselves, or dispute about them as much as you please." A better answer could not be given by man; and it was highly becoming the acknowledged meekness, gentleness, and benevolence of this amiable man. He concluded that the state had no right to control any man's religious opinion; that was between the object of his worship and his own conscience; and therefore he was not authorized to intermeddle with subjects of this nature, which the law left to every man's private judgment. Had all the rulers of the people in every country acted as this sensible and benevolent Roman, laws against liberty of conscience, concerning religious persecution, would not be found to be, as they not are, blots and disgraces on the statute books of almost all the civilized nations of Europe.