Paul was about to defend himself, but just then Gallio responded, “You Jews aren’t claiming that Paul is doing anything immoral or illegal. If you were, it would make sense for me to listen to you.
If someone comes to you and preaches about a Jesus who’s different from the Jesus we preached about, or a spirit different from the Spirit you received, or a version of the good news that’s different from the one you accepted, you put up with those kinds of things easily enough.
If you do what’s right, you won’t need to be afraid of your rulers. But if you do what’s wrong, watch out! You don’t want to be afraid of those in authority, do you? Then do what’s right, and you’ll be praised.
But I don’t know exactly what to write about him to His Majesty. So I’ve brought him here today so that all of you—and especially you, King Agrippa—can listen to him. I hope that because of this hearing, I can figure out something to write about his case.
If I’m guilty of anything worthy of death, I’m prepared to die. But no one has the right to hand me over to these Jews to face false charges. I appeal to Caesar!”
“You’re a child of the devil! You’re an enemy of everything that’s right! You deceive people by using all kinds of tricks. Won’t you ever stop twisting the right ways of the Lord?