SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:13
diciendo: Que ste persuade a los hombres a honrar a Dios contra la ley.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 18:13
Verse 13. Persuaded men to worship God contrary to the law.] This accusation was very insidious. The Jews had permission by the Romans to worship their own God in their own way: this the laws allowed. The Roman worship was also established by the law. The Jews probably intended to accuse Paul of acting contrary to both laws. "He is not a Jew, for he does not admit of circumcision; he is not a Gentile, for he preaches against the worship of the gods. He is setting up a worship of his own, in opposition to all laws, and persuading many people to join with him: he is therefore a most dangerous man, and should be put to death."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. Saying, this fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law .] Meaning either to the law of the Romans, which forbad the bringing in of any new gods, without the leave of the senate; (see Gill on Acts 16:21); or rather to the law of Moses: the Arabic version reads, our law; though this was false, for Moses in his law wrote of Christ, and ordered the children of Israel to hearken to him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-17 - Paul was about to show that he did not teach men to worship God contrary to law; but the judge would not allow the Jews to complain to him of what was not within his office. It was right in Gallio that he left the Jews to themselves in matters relating to their religion, but yet would not let them, under pretence of that, persecute another. But it was wrong to speak slightly of a law and religion which he migh have known to be of God, and which he ought to have acquainted himsel with. In what way God is to be worshipped, whether Jesus be the Messiah, and whether the gospel be a Divine revelation, are no questions of words and names, they are questions of vast importance Gallio spoke as if he boasted of his ignorance of the Scriptures, as in the law of God was beneath his notice. Gallio cared for none of thes things. If he cared not for the affronts of bad men, it wa commendable; but if he concerned not himself for the abuses done to good men, his indifference was carried too far. And those who see an hear of the sufferings of God's people, and have no feeling with them or care for them, who do not pity and pray for them, are of the sam spirit as Gallio, who cared for none of these things.
Greek Textus Receptus
λεγοντες 3004 5723 V-PAP-NPM οτι 3754 CONJ παρα 3844 PREP τον 3588 T-ASM νομον 3551 N-ASM ουτος 3778 D-NSM αναπειθει 374 5719 V-PAI-3S τους 3588 T-APM ανθρωπους 444 N-APM σεβεσθαι 4576 5738 V-PNN τον 3588 T-ASM θεον 2316 N-ASM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:13 {Contrary to the law} (para ton nomon). They did not accuse Paul of treason as in Thessalonica, perhaps Paul had been more careful in his language here. They bring the same charge here that the owners of the slave-girl brought in Philippi (#16:21) Perhaps they fear to go too far with Gallio, for they are dealing with a Roman proconsul, not with the politarchs of Thessalonica. The Jewish religion was a _religio licita_ and they were allowed to make convert, but not among Roman citizens. To prove that Paul was acting contrary to Roman law (for Jewish law had no standing with Gallio though the phrase has a double meaning) these Jews had to show that Paul was making converts in ways that violated the Roman regulations on that subject. The accusation as made did not show it nor did they produce any evidence to do it. The verb used anapeiqei means to stir up by persuasion (old verb here only in the N.T.), a thing that he had a right to do.
