Question

The Roman proconsul Gallio would not judge Paul when Paul was brought up on charges because he said the matter was a ___

A. Jewish controversy
B. charge against his friend Paul
C. matter for Caesar to decide
D. trumped up allegation

Answer 1

Gallio, the Roman proconsul, deemed the charges against Paul as a Jewish controversy, thereby refusing to judge the case, reflecting Rome's occasional policy of allowing Jews to manage their religious disputes. Therefore, the correct option is A. Jewish controversy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Roman proconsul Gallio refused to judge the apostle Paul when he was brought up on charges, stating that the matter was a Jewish controversy. This decision is rooted in the official Roman policy of the time, which occasionally allowed Jewish people to resolve their own religious disputes. The historical context illustrates that Roman attitudes towards Jewish people varied, and at times, Jewish traditions and internal issues were permitted to be dealt with autonomously without Roman interference.