a man. He had long heard of Paul, and of the wonderful exertions he made in propagating what he professed to be a revelation from heaven. We can make some allowance for a Governor, circumstanced as Gallio was, not sending to Paul to get information from him respecting the doctrines he preached : but now God had sent the man into his very presence ; and Paul was actually about to declare those very truths, which Gallio should have earnestly desired to hear : yet when " God had given him this price to get wisdom, he knew not how to use it." Here then we blame him exceedingly : his in- difference here betrayed a total want of all religion, and an utter disregard of all that should have been interesting to an immortal being. The historian evidently intends to fix a stigma upon him ; and Gallio well deserved it ; and, as long- as the world shall stand, he will be the representative of all who are regardless of their eternal interests.]
2. As compared with the other characters with whom he had to do —
[We pass over Sosthenes and his persecutors, because we cannot absolutely determine who they were : but we think that Sosthenes had shewn himself desirous of screening Paul ; and that the Greeks were instigated by the Jews to vent their rage on him, because he, who, as ruler of their synagogue, might have been expected most warmly to espouse their cause, had now begun to take part against them.
The other two parties are the persecuting Jeivs, and the persecuted Apostle. In comparison of the former, Gallio appears to advantage : for they were seeking to destroy a man merely for his opinions, and for endeavouring, in a peace- ful way, to disseminate those opinions ; whereas he was tolerant, and refused to sanction so unreasonable a proceeding. He justly distinguished between gross violations of the law, which no government should tolerate, and certain differences of opinion which might consist with the undiminished welfare of society. As a friend to toleration therefore, he merits our applause : and we regret that those who professed themselves the people of God, were so inferior to a heathen in appre- ciating and upholding the rights of man.
But if we compare him with the persecuted Apostle, he sinks to the lowest state of degradation. Behold the Apostle ! it was his "care for these things" that involved him in all his trouble : had he been content to go to heaven alone, he might have avoided all these bitter persecutions. But he knew the value of an immortal soul ; and was " willing to endure all things for the elect's sake, that they might obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." He went everywhere to find out men whom he might instruct in the