Acts 18:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But if it be a question of words and names, and [of] your law, look ye [to it]; for I will be no judge of such [matters].

Complete Jewish Bible:

But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law, then you must deal with it yourselves. I flatly refuse to judge such matters.”

Berean Standard Bible:

But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”

American Standard Version:

but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; I am not minded to be a judge of these matters.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But^{G1161} if^{G1487} it be^{G2076} a question^{G2213} of^{G4012} words^{G3056} and^{G2532} names^{G3686}, and^{G2532} of^{G2596} your^{G5209} law^{G3551}, look ye^{{G3700}{G846}} to it; for^{G1063} I^{G1473} will be^{{G1014}{G1511}} no^{G3756} judge^{G2923} of such^{G5130} matters.

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Commentary for Acts 18:15

Acts 18:15 is a verse that captures a moment in the apostle Paul's missionary journey, specifically during his time in Corinth. In this verse, the Roman proconsul Gallio is addressing a dispute brought before him by the Jews against Paul. The Jews had accused Paul of persuading people to worship God in ways that were contrary to the law. However, Gallio's response reflects a broader Roman legal perspective, which tended to be indifferent to internal religious disputes, especially those concerning the finer points of Jewish law.

Gallio's statement, "But if it be a question of words and names, and [of] your law, look ye [to it]; for I will be no judge of such [matters]," indicates that he sees the conflict as a matter of Jewish religious law rather than a case that falls under Roman jurisdiction. He dismisses the charge, refusing to adjudicate on issues that pertain to the intricacies of Jewish theology or terminology. This hands-off approach underscores the Roman policy of allowing subject peoples to govern their own religious practices, as long as they did not conflict with Roman law or public order.

The historical context of this verse is significant. It reflects the early Christian community's struggle for recognition and the legal challenges they faced within the Roman Empire. Gallio's refusal to judge the matter can be seen as an early example of the legal distinction between religious and civil offenses, which would later play a crucial role in the development and spread of Christianity. The themes of religious freedom, the relationship between religious and secular law, and the challenges faced by early Christian missionaries are all embedded in this brief interaction recorded in Acts 18:15.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
2. Strong's Number: G1487
   There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: εἰ
   Transliteration: ei
   Pronunciation: i
   Description: a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μή(γε), εἰ καί, εἰ μή, εἰ μή τι, εἴ περ, εἴ πως, εἴ τις, ἐκ. See also ἐάν.
   
3. Strong's Number: G2076
   There are 812 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐστί
   Transliteration: estí
   Pronunciation: es-tee'
   Description: third person singular present indicative of εἰμί; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
   
4. Strong's Number: G2213
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ζήτημα
   Transliteration: zḗtēma
   Pronunciation: dzay'-tay-mah
   Description: from ζητέω; a search (properly concretely), i.e. (in words) a debate:--question.
   
5. Strong's Number: G4012
   There are 304 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: περί
   Transliteration: perí
   Pronunciation: per-ee'
   Description: from the base of πέραν; properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period):--(there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with. In comparative, it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).
   
6. Strong's Number: G3056
   There are 316 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: λόγος
   Transliteration: lógos
   Pronunciation: log'-os
   Description: from λέγω; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
   
7. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
8. Strong's Number: G3686
   There are 214 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὄνομα
   Transliteration: ónoma
   Pronunciation: on'-om-ah
   Description: from a presumed derivative of the base of γινώσκω (compare ὀνίνημι); a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character):--called, (+ sur-)name(-d).
   
9. Strong's Number: G2596
   There are 436 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: κατά
   Transliteration: katá
   Pronunciation: kat-ah'
   Description: a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from … to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), … by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.
   
10. Strong's Number: G5209
    There are 388 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὑμᾶς
    Transliteration: hymâs
    Pronunciation: hoo-mas'
    Description: accusative case of ὑμεῖς; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).
    
11. Strong's Number: G3551
    There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: νόμος
    Transliteration: nómos
    Pronunciation: nom'-os
    Description: from a primary (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.
    
12. Strong's Number: G3700
    There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὀπτάνομαι
    Transliteration: optánomai
    Pronunciation: op'-tom-ahee
    Description: a (middle voice) prolonged form of the primary (middle voice) ; which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternate of ὁράω; to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from βλέπω, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from εἴδω, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while θεάομαι, and still more emphatically its intensive θεωρέω, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and σκοπέω a watching from a distance):--appear, look, see, shew self.
    
13. Strong's Number: G846
    There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὐτός
    Transliteration: autós
    Pronunciation: ow-tos'
    Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
    
14. Strong's Number: G1063
    There are 1016 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: γάρ
    Transliteration: gár
    Pronunciation: gar
    Description: a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
    
15. Strong's Number: G1473
    There are 334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐγώ
    Transliteration: egṓ
    Pronunciation: eg-o'
    Description: a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me. For the other cases and the plural see ἐμέ, ἐμοί, ἐμοῦ, ἡμᾶς, ἡμεῖς, ἡμῖν, ἡμῶν, etc.
    
16. Strong's Number: G1014
    There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: βούλομαι
    Transliteration: boúlomai
    Pronunciation: boo'-lom-ahee
    Description: middle voice of a primary verb; to "will," i.e. (reflexively) be willing:--be disposed, minded, intend, list, (be, of own) will (-ing). Compare θέλω.
    
17. Strong's Number: G1511
    There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἶναι
    Transliteration: eînai
    Pronunciation: i'-nahee
    Description: present infinitive from εἰμί; to exist:--am, was. come, is, X lust after, X please well, there is, to be, was.
    
18. Strong's Number: G3756
    There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὐ
    Transliteration: ou
    Pronunciation: ookh
    Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος.
    
19. Strong's Number: G2923
    There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: κριτής
    Transliteration: kritḗs
    Pronunciation: kree-tace'
    Description: from κρίνω; a judge (genitive case or specially):--judge.
    
20. Strong's Number: G5130
    There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τούτων
    Transliteration: toútōn
    Pronunciation: too'-tone
    Description: genitive case plural masculine or neuter of οὗτος; of (from or concerning) these (persons or things):--such, their, these (things), they, this sort, those.