The phrase they said, which introduces direct discourse, may require some type of goal—for example, “they said to Gallio.”

The Greek term, literally rendered “persuading,” is taken by the Good News Translation as trying to persuade. Commentators disagree in their understanding of what “law” is referred to in the expression against the law, whether Jewish law or Roman law. In 16.20 and 17.7 Paul is accused of breaking the Roman law, and some scholars assume that the accusation in 18.13 is parallel. On the other hand, the reference to law in verse 15 might be taken to support the theory that the Jewish law is the one in question. Probably what happened is that the Jews accused Paul of proclaiming a religion which did not have legal status with the Roman government, while Gallio sees in their accusation nothing more than squabbles about their own Jewish religion, so he refuses to concern himself with their charges.

Against the law is rendered in some languages as “does not agree with the law,” “does not say the same thing as the law,” or “causes a person to violate the law.” In many languages the law cannot be used in the singular as a collective. Rather, one must employ a plural—for example, “against the rules” or “contrary to the laws.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .