SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:15
Pero si son cuestiones de palabras, y de nombres, y de vuestra ley, vedlo vosotros; porque yo no quiero ser juez de estas cosas.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 18:15
Verse 15. But if it be a question of words] peri logou, 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. But if it be a question of words , etc.] 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.
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
ει 1487 COND δε 1161 CONJ ζητημα 2213 N-NSN εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S περι 4012 PREP λογου 3056 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ ονοματων 3686 N-GPN και 2532 CONJ νομου 3551 N-GSM του 3588 T-GSM καθ 2596 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP οψεσθε 3700 5695 V-FDI-2P αυτοι 846 P-NPM κριτης 2923 N-NSM γαρ 1063 CONJ εγω 1473 P-1NS τουτων 5130 D-GPN ου 3756 PRT-N βουλομαι 1014 5736 V-PNI-1S ειναι 1511 5750 V-PXN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
15. Question. The best texts read the plural, guests. See on ch. xv. 2. Judge. In the Greek the position of the word is emphatic, at the beginning of the sentence: "Judge of these matters I am not minded to be."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:15 {Questions} (zetemata). Plural, contemptuous, "a parcel of questions" (Knowling). {About words} (peri logou). Word, singular, talk, not deed or fact (ergon, factum). {And names} (kai onomatwn). As to whether "Jesus" should also be called "Christ" or "Messiah." The Jews, Gallio knew, split hairs over words and names. {And your own law} (kai nomou tou kaq' humas) Literally, "And law that according to you." Gallio had not been caught in the trap set for him. What they had said concerned Jewish law, not Roman law at all. {Look to it yourselves} (oyesqe autoi). The volitive future middle indicative of horaw often used (cf. #Mt 27:4) where an imperative could be employed (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 874). The use of autoi (yourselves) turns it all over to them. {I am not minded} (ou boulomai). I am not willing, I do not wish. An absolute refusal to allow a religious question to be brought before a Roman civil court. this decision of Gallio does not establish Christianity in preference to Judaism. It simply means that the case was plainly that Christianity was a form of Judaism and as such was not opposed to Roman law. this decision opened the door for Paul's preaching all over the Roman Empire. Later Paul himself argues (#Ro 9-11) that in fact Christianity is the true, the spiritual Judaism.
