Gallio was the Roman proconsul in the province of Achaia (Greece) around the year 51–52 AD. He is known from the Bible for rejecting the Jews' accusations against the apostle Paul in Corinth and refusing to intervene in what he considered an internal religious dispute. His decision had significant importance for the early Christian mission, as it effectively allowed Paul to continue his preaching.
Gallio rejected the charges, stating that if it concerned words and names and the Jews' own law, he would not judge such matters. He regarded it as an internal religious dispute, not a criminal case.
14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If this were a matter of some crime or serious wrongdoing, you Jews, I would have good reason to hear you out.
After Gallio dismissed the case, the crowd seized Sosthenes, the synagogue ruler, and beat him in front of the court, but Gallio did not care about this.
17Then they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this concerned Gallio in the least.
18Paul stayed on in Corinth for many days. Then he said farewell to the brothers and sailed for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. Before sailing, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae, because of a vow he had made.