Strong’s Greek 4467 designates an act of flagrant lawlessness or criminal mischief. The single New Testament occurrence, Acts 18:14, sets the vocabulary within a courtroom scene and frames the Church’s relationship to secular justice.

Scriptural Usage

Acts 18:14 portrays the Roman proconsul Gallio dismissing charges against Paul: “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or a serious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you” (Berean Standard Bible). Here the term points to behavior that clearly violates civic law, as opposed to intramural religious disputes. Gallio recognizes no civil infraction in Paul’s preaching, underlining both the innocence of the apostle and the legitimacy of gospel proclamation within the Roman world.

Historical and Legal Background

Corinth, the seat of Gallio’s tribunal, enjoyed status as a Roman colony; its bema functioned as the local court of assize. Roman jurisprudence distinguished between religious controversy, which it generally ignored, and crimes that threatened public order. By using a word connoting serious felonies, Luke accurately reflects Gallio’s legal vocabulary. Gallio’s verdict sets an early legal precedent: proclamation of Jesus as Messiah did not, in itself, qualify as sedition or criminality in imperial eyes—an important observation for Luke’s original audience navigating a pagan judicial system.

Doctrinal Themes

1. Vindication of the Gospel

Paul’s exoneration mirrors earlier declarations of innocence concerning Christ Himself (Luke 23:4; John 19:6). The passage reinforces the consistency of divine justice: God providentially works through secular authority to protect His messengers when it fulfills His redemptive purposes.

2. Distinction between Sin and Crime

Scripture recognizes that not every sin is chargeable by human courts. Gallio’s ruling illustrates Romans 13:3–4, where rulers punish “wrong” that threatens social order. The Church must therefore discern between moral transgression, which always requires repentance, and actions that additionally violate civil law.

3. Christian Conduct before Authorities

Acts 18:14, coupled with 1 Peter 2:12, urges believers to maintain conduct “above reproach” so that any accusation of criminality will prove baseless. The reputation of the gospel is safeguarded when Christians avoid even the appearance of civil wrongdoing.

Ministry and Discipleship Applications

• Apologetics and Legal Defense

Paul’s silence before Gallio (until permitted to speak) models respectful engagement with magistrates. Believers today may draw on this example when confronting false legal accusations, trusting God’s sovereignty over judicial outcomes.

• Church–State Relations

Acts 18 establishes a paradigm in which the Church appeals to true justice and seeks benevolent protection from governing authorities, without compromising its loyalty to Christ. This balance guides contemporary approaches to religious liberty.

• Integrity and Social Witness

Gallio’s willingness to dismiss the case depended on Paul’s evident innocence. Modern ministry likewise gains credibility when leaders live transparently, ensuring that opposition arises solely from doctrinal offense, not moral misconduct.

Related Biblical Concepts

• “Wrongdoing” (Gk. adikema, Romans 13:4) — civil offense punished by the sword.
• “Evildoers” (Gk. kakopoios, 1 Peter 2:12) — a broader moral designation that may or may not incur legal penalty.
• “Good deeds” (Gk. agathopoieo, 1 Peter 2:15) — the positive counterpart that silences ignorant talk.

Summary

Strong’s 4467 encapsulates the line between criminality and theological controversy. By recording Gallio’s verdict, Luke emphasizes God’s protection of the missionary enterprise, underscores the importance of blameless conduct, and furnishes the Church with a timeless model for navigating secular courts while advancing the kingdom of God.