While in Corinth, the apostle Paul asked the church in Thessalonica to pray for him. Did God hear the Thessalonians' prayer?

"Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith" (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2).

During Paul's long stay in Corinth his preaching eventually led to conflict with the Jews there. The Jews used a change in local government as an opportunity to accuse Paul: "And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat" (Acts 18:11-12).

The Jews picked the wrong man! Gallio was the brother of the great Stoic writer Seneca, who was Emperor Nero’s tutor. Seneca mentions Gallio in his writings, "No mortal is so pleasant to any one person as Gallio is to everybody." It is interesting that Luke also describes Gallio's stable personality. After Paul’s persecutors trumped up charges against Paul, Gallio quickly saw through their lies and dismissed the false accusations. He did not intervene when outraged Greeks beat the Jewish leaders who had filed the charges against Paul (Acts 18:14-17).

This set a legal precedent throughout the Roman Empire concerning Paul's mission and the Christian religion. "If Gallio had accepted the Jewish charge," adds The Expositor's Bible Commentary, "and found Paul guilty of the alleged offense, provincial governors everywhere would have had a precedent, and Paul’s ministry would have been severely restricted. As it was, Gallio's refusal to act in the matter was tantamount to the recognition of Christianity as a religio licita [an authorized religion]; and the decision of so eminent a Roman proconsul would carry weight wherever the issue arose again and give pause to those who might want to oppose the Christian movement . . . For the coming decade or so, the Christian message could be proclaimed in the provinces of the empire without fear of coming into conflict with Roman law, thanks largely to Gallio's decision" (1981, volume 9, page 486).

Yes, God answered the Thessalonians' prayer. He will also answer our prayers "that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified."

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!