Which law was being violated? Roman, or Jewish Law?

When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, "This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." Acts 18:12-13

Gallio probably had no negative opinion regarding Christianity. He was stirred, however, by the Jewish religious leaders who in a thinly veiled threat, warned the proconsul that the Christians (and Paul in particular) were a threat to Roman peace. They accused Paul of persuading people to worship God “contrary to the law,” Which law? Roman or Jewish Law? Answer: neither actually.

First, like Jesus, Paul taught Christians to be law abiding citizens, civilly.

Second, like Jesus, Paul taught that Christ was the fulfillment of the Jewish Law (Matthew 5:17). He argued that the Law remains holy and good even for Christians (Romans 7:12).

But like the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified, the attack was because the religionists believed that Christianity threatened the Jewish Law. Knowing that the Roman authorities didn’t care about that, they twisted the truth to push the Romans to make it appear that Roman law was being broken—which it was not.

What would Gallio do? Stay tuned.