CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
Sir,-yYour interesting leader on "Conscientious Objectors" called to mind how nearly 2,000 years ago a Roman Tribunal dealt with one. The story is recorded in Acts XVIII. (I quéte from the New Testament in Basic English). Paul, after his encounter with the Greek. philosophers, left Athens and went to Corinth. There he worked with Aquila, a fellow tentmaker; but on the Sabbath day had, with some success "discussions in the Synagogue, turning Greeks and Jews to the Faith." Crispus, a ruler of the Synagogue, was converted. This incensed a large company of Jews, and they dragged Paul befcze the court, over which Gallio, Governor of Achaia, presided. The charge was "teaching the people to give worship to God in a way that is against the law." Paul, when about to defend himself, was interrupted by Gallio who, seeing that the dispute could not be settled by a Roman Tribunal, said to the Jews: "If this was anything to do with wrongdoing or crime, there would be a‘reason for me to give you a hearing: but if it is a question of words or names or of your law, see to it yourselves." And he sent them away from the Judge’s seat. In this decision Gallio was true to the religious tolerance of Rome, that permitted all people throughout the Empire to practise their own religion; and true to his own character, as may be gathered from other sources. He was a brother of Seneca the famous philosopher, who wrote of him, "No mortal man is so gracious to anybody as he is to everybody." As the Greek police were clearing the Court for the next case, the Jews attacked the Ruler of the Synagogue, "and gave him blows," but Gallio "took no official notice of this," and for this misunderstood phrase he has been blacklisted as an _ indifferent, irreligious, cynical man, "who cared for none of these things" (authorised version). What things? Certainly not the "things" which Paul believed and taught, but simply this: dealing with Sosthene as the Jews intended, apparently, to deal with. Paul.
E. C.
ISAAC
(Wellington).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19420821.2.9.2
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 7, Issue 165, 21 August 1942, Page 3
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352CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS New Zealand Listener, Volume 7, Issue 165, 21 August 1942, Page 3
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