of those things :" but God cared for Paul ; and it was impossible for man to " hurt him." The indifference of Gallio left Paul entirely at the mercy of his ene- mies : but " the word of God could not be broken ;" and therefore Paul was as safe from injury, as he would have been even in heaven itself.
The account here given of Gallio is deserving of particular consideration ; and the rather, as very dif- ferent opinions have been formed respecting it. We propose therefore,
I. To form an estimate of his character —
It is not so much from a single expression that we are to form our judgment, as from a view of all the circumstances under which he acted, and all the persons with whom he had to do. It will be proper to notice his character,
1. As exhibited in his conduct on this occasion —
[Gallio acted in a double capacity, as a man, and as a magistrate. In his official character, whilst we applaud his moderation, we think him highly deserving of blame. As a Governor, even if no reference had been made to him, he should have endeavoured to prevent an innocent man from being oppressed by an enraged multitude, and should have required the criminality of Paul to be established before any punishment should be inflicted on him : but when a direct reference was made to him for judgment, he should on no account have left him at the mercy of his enemies. What though he did not feel himself competent to decide the points at issue between them ; he might easily see whether the points at issue were of such importance to the public welfare as to demand a judicial examination : and, if necessary, he might have appointed a commission of persons qualified to examine it under his sanction and authority. At all events, he should not have left the people to take the law into their own hands. In relation to Sosthenes also he was highly criminal : for a magistrate ought on no account to suffer such an open and flagrant violation of the law, as that which took place in the very seat of judgment. A magistrate should "not bear the sword in vain : he is God's representative and vicegerent upon earth ; and he ought to be both " a terror to evil-doers, and a praise to them that do well." In shrinking from the execution of his office, whether through indolence or fear, he violates his duty both to God and man.
Nor do we more approve of him in his personal conduct, as