“If it were a matter of wrongdoing or a vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But, since it is a matter of questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” Acts 18:14-15
The world will always try to suck us into its way of doing things. It will always seek to make us part of itself, to entangle us to do the bidding of the Evil One, much the way the Jews in Achaia tried to maneuver Galio into getting rid of Paul, in the same way Caiaphas pressured Pilate into crucifying Jesus.
Were the Jews evil and Galio righteous? No. They were both worldly and focused on earthly things, namely maintaining the status quo. They sought to keep things “peaceful” - the way they were. No rocking of the boat.
Likewise, the world seeks to influence us to do its bidding, and we often go along to get along. Or sometimes, like Galio, we stand by when we see injustice1 saying, “It’s not my problem.” Neither way is fruitful. Both are the ways of the world and the Evil One who stands behind the scenes pulling the strings of the corrupted human heart.
Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for this day, for your Word that enlightens me, and for the Holy Spirit that guides me. Do not let me be led astray to do this world’s bidding or to stand idly by when I ought to act. This I pray, in Jesus’ name, who was neither influenced by this world nor stood by while others suffered. Amen.
And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. Acts 18:16-17