Acts 18:16
New International Version
So he drove them off.

New Living Translation
And he threw them out of the courtroom.

English Standard Version
And he drove them from the tribunal.

Berean Standard Bible
And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

Berean Literal Bible
And he drove them from the judgment seat.

King James Bible
And he drave them from the judgment seat.

New King James Version
And he drove them from the judgment seat.

New American Standard Bible
And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

NASB 1995
And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

NASB 1977
And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

Amplified Bible
And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

Christian Standard Bible
So he drove them from the tribunal.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So he drove them from the judge’s bench.

American Standard Version
And he drove them from the judgment-seat.

Contemporary English Version
Then he sent them out of the court.

English Revised Version
And he drave them from the judgment-seat.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Gallio had them forced out of his court.

Good News Translation
And he drove them out of the court.

International Standard Version
So he drove them away from the judge's seat.

Majority Standard Bible
And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

NET Bible
Then he had them forced away from the judgment seat.

New Heart English Bible
He drove them from the judgment seat.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he drove them from the judgment-seat.

Weymouth New Testament
So he ordered them out of court.

World English Bible
So he drove them from the judgment seat.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he drives them from the judgment seat;

Berean Literal Bible
And he drove them from the judgment seat.

Young's Literal Translation
and he drave them from the tribunal;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he drave them away from the judgment seat.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he drove them from the judgment seat.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he ordered them from the tribunal.

New American Bible
And he drove them away from the tribunal.

New Revised Standard Version
And he dismissed them from the tribunal.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he drove them from his judgment seat.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he expelled them from his judgment seat.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he drove them from the judgment-seat.

Godbey New Testament
And he drove them away from the tribunal.

Haweis New Testament
And he drove them from the judgment-seat.

Mace New Testament
upon which he order'd them to withdraw.

Weymouth New Testament
So he ordered them out of court.

Worrell New Testament
And he drove them from the judgment-seat.

Worsley New Testament
And he ordered them away from the tribunal.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul Before Gallio
15But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.” 16And he drove them away from the judgment seat. 17At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.…

Cross References
Matthew 27:24
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

John 19:4-6
Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.” / When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” / As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “You take Him and crucify Him,” Pilate replied, “for I find no basis for a charge against Him.”

Luke 23:14-16
and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. / Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death. / Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”

Mark 15:14-15
“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” / And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

John 18:38
“What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.

Luke 23:22-25
A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.” / But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed. / So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met. ...

John 19:12-16
From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.” / When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Hebrew is Gabbatha. / It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” ...

Matthew 27:19-24
While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.” / But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. / “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied. ...

Mark 15:9-15
“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked. / For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. / But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead. ...

John 19:1-3
Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. / The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. / And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.

Luke 23:4
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

John 18:31
“You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.

Matthew 27:11-14
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. / And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. / Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?” ...

Mark 15:1-5
Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate. / So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. / And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things. ...

Luke 23:1-3
Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate. / And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.” / So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.


Treasury of Scripture

And he drove them from the judgment seat.

Psalm 76:10
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Romans 13:3,4
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: …

Revelation 12:16
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

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Acts 18
1. Paul labors with his hands, and preaches at Corinth to the Gentiles.
9. The Lord encourages him in a vision.
12. He is accused before Gallio the deputy, but is dismissed.
18. Afterwards passing from city to city, he strengthens the disciples.
24. Apollos, being instructed by Aquila and Priscilla, preaches Christ boldly.














And he drove them away
The phrase "he drove them away" indicates a forceful action taken by Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, against the accusers of Paul. The Greek word used here is "ἀπήλασεν" (apēlasen), which conveys a sense of expulsion or dismissal. This action reflects Gallio's decision to not entertain the charges brought against Paul by the Jewish leaders. Historically, this moment underscores the Roman authorities' general disinterest in internal Jewish religious disputes, which they often saw as irrelevant to Roman law. Gallio's dismissal is significant as it sets a precedent for the early Christian movement, allowing it to continue spreading without immediate Roman interference.

from the judgment seat
The "judgment seat," or "βῆμα" (bēma) in Greek, was a raised platform used by Roman officials to address legal matters and make public pronouncements. Archaeological findings in Corinth, where this event took place, have uncovered such platforms, providing tangible evidence of the historical context of this passage. The bēma was a place of authority and decision-making, and Gallio's presence there signifies his role as a Roman official with the power to adjudicate legal matters. In the broader scriptural context, the judgment seat is also a metaphor for divine judgment, as seen in other New Testament passages. Here, however, it serves as a literal location where Gallio exercises his authority, ultimately protecting Paul from legal repercussions and allowing the Gospel to continue to flourish. This moment highlights the providence of God in using secular authorities to further His divine purposes.

(16) He drove them from the judgment seat.--The words imply a magisterial act. The order was given to the lictors to clear the court, and the Jews, who did not immediately retreat were exposed to the ignominy of blows from their rods.

Verse 16. - And he drave them; ἀπήλασεν, found only here in the New Testament or LXX. But it is used by Demosthenes and Plutarch in exactly the same connection: ἀπὸ τοῦ συνεδρίου ἀπὸ τοῦ βήματος (Demosthenes, 1373,12; Plutarch, ' Marcell.,' p. 410, in Schleusner). It implies the ignominious dismissal of the case, without its being even tried. The judgment seat (βῆμα); the proconsular place of judgment. The βῆμα (here and ver. 12) was properly the "raised space," or "tribune," on which, in the case of a consul, proconsul, or praetor, the sella curulis was placed on which he sat and gave judgment. It was usually a kind of apse to the basilica. In Matthew 27:19; John 19:13, and, indeed, here and elsewhere, it seems to be used, generally, for the judgment-seat itself (see Acts 25:10).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

he drove
ἀπήλασεν (apēlasen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 556: To drive away. From apo and elauno; to dismiss.

them {away}
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

judgment seat.
βήματος (bēmatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 968: From the base of basis; a step, i.e. Foot-breath; by implication, a rostrum, i.e. A tribunal.


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Acts 18:15
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