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The year was approximately 52 A.D., 22 years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Under the dynamic and inspired leadership of the Apostle Paul, Christianity was spreading throughout the Roman empire. But preaching the gospel was a hazardous and a dangerous mission that required a great deal of courage and faith in God!

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One time, fleeing from his enemies in Turkey, Paul sailed across the Aegean Sea to Athens, Greece. From there he journeyed down the Grecian peninsula to the city of Corinth. After only a short time there, Paul met a Jewish couple named Aquila and Priscilla, who were tent-makers by profession. They readily received Jesus into their hearts and invited Paul to stay in their home. Paul helped them make tents, and every Sabbath day went with them to the local Jewish synagogue where he preached and tried to persuade the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.

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The chief ruler of the synagogue was a Jew by the name of Crispus, and as he listened to Paul, he became convinced that what he was saying was the truth, so he and all of his household joyfully received Jesus into their hearts! But there were other Jewish leaders who did not receive the Truth, and chief among them was a man named Sosthenes. In his hatred for Paul, Sosthenes began spreading vicious lies and rumors and soon had Paul and Crispus expelled from the Synagogue! Paul then went next door to the house of Justus, a Christian whose house was built right beside the synagogue. From there, he began preaching the Gospel to the Greeks of Corinth, and soon a large number of them were converted to Christianity!

Sosthenes flew into a fury ! Weve got to stop Paul before he wins any more people to Jesus! Sosthenes declared, burning with hate and jealousy. And heres what well do. Paul was in Justus home when suddenly a mob, led by Sosthenes, burst into the house! There he is! Seize him! Sosthenes shouted. Paul rose to his feet, and instantly a dozen men were upon him and had pinned him to the wall! If I could judge you according to our religious laws, Sosthenes snarled, I would have you stoned to death right here on the spot!But Roman law requires that you get a civil trial, and we dont want to get ourselves in trouble by killing you, so well have to let the Romans condemn you!

But Ive broken no laws or done anything legally wrong. Paul answered his accuser, You have no case against me. Sosthenes stuck his face right up to Pauls, his evil eyes gleaming inches away, and said, Shut up, you dog, and look outside! There is a mob of several hundred Greeks with us who are now persuaded that you have broken Roman laws!And by the time we get finished accusing you, the Romans will crucify you just like they did your Jesus! With that, he spat in Pauls face, and led the mob down the streets of the city to the great marble palace where the Roman Governors judgment seat was. Now the proconsular Governor of Greece was Junius Annoeus Gallio, the younger brother of the famous Roman senator Seneca. Upon hearing that a serious legal crime had been committed, he admitted the mob of Jews and enraged Greek citizens into his court.

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When they had assembled before the Governor, Sosthenes stepped forward and began to accuse Paul. This man, he charged, is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law! Sosthenes began bringing one accusation after another against Paul, and the Governor became concerned at the multitude of serious criminal accusations that were being leveled against Paul!

Suddenly Governor Gallio smiled as he realized what was happening. This is ridiculous! he thought, this is nothing more than religious jealousy and arguments over tradition and doctrinal differences!And yet theyre trying to get me to pass judgment on him by accusing him of having broken some legal law! Finally Sosthenes and the other Jews finished their accusations, and just as Paul was about to speak in his defense, Gallio rose to his feet and said, If you Jews were making a complaint about some actual wrong-doing or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. But since it involves questions about things having to do with your own religious laws, settle the matter yourselves! I will not be a judge of such matters! Motioning to the guards, Gallio had the mob driven out of the Court. Seeing Paul still standing there, he said to him quietly, You are free to go.

As Paul emerged from the court building and descended its great steps, he noticed that an angry quarrel had broken out between the Jews and the angry mob of Greeks who had been tricked and misled by Sosthenes lies about Paul. Furious that Sosthenes had gotten them all stirred up over nothing, the angry crowd now turned on him and began beating him for having deceived and used them! Paul stayed on in Corinth for quite some time after this, teaching and preaching the Word of God and winning thousands of souls to faith in Jesus! By the time he left, one of the strongest groups of Christians in all Europe had been established, and an untold multitude of people had found true happiness and meaning in life!

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Dramatized Bible story from Acts 18

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Story and art The Family International