12. Gallio became the governor of the country of Southern Greece. At that time, some of the Jews came together against Paul and took him to the court.
13. They said to Gallio, “This man is teaching people to worship God in a way that is against our law!”
14. Paul was about to say something, but Gallio spoke to the Jews. Gallio said, “I would listen to you Jews if you were complaining about a crime or some wrong.
15. But the things you are saying are only questions about words and names—arguments about your own law. So you must solve this problem yourselves. I don’t want to be a judge of these things!”
16. Then Gallio made them leave the court.
17. Then they all grabbed Sosthenes. (Sosthenes was now the leader of the synagogue.) They beat him there before the court. But this did not bother Gallio.
18. Paul stayed with the believers for many more days. Then he left and sailed for Syria. Priscilla and Aquila went with him. At Cenchrea, Paul cut off his hair. This showed that he had made a promise to God.
19. Then they went to Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. While Paul was there, he went into the synagogue and talked with the Jews.
20. When they asked him to stay with them longer, he refused.