Acts 18:17 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Then all the Greeks Who were present, perceiving how little favour the Jews found from the court, and displeased with them for their turbulent, persecuting spirit, perhaps, thinking that Paul was thus insulted for the regards he had expressed for the Gentiles; took Sosthenes The successor of Crispus, as chief ruler of the synagogue And probably Paul's chief accuser; and beat him It seems, because he had occasioned them so much trouble to no purpose; before the judgment-seat While Gallio looked an without hindering them. But though this was certainly a very irregular proceeding, Gallio cared for none of those things Did not concern himself at all to interpose in the affair. Probably he was pleased with the indignity done by the Greeks to the chief magistrate of the Jews, whose bigoted and persecuting spirit he disliked. It seems what Sosthenes now suffered had a happy effect on him; for he afterward became a Christian.