authority involving duties which he exercises seriously and heartily (4:1, 14 f., 9:17 f., 15:30 f.), as one who is ultimately answerable to God alone. He courteously associates with himself a fellow Christian, Sosthenes. When the proconsul Gallio had ruled out of court the Jews and their charges brought against Paul, the pagan mob amused itself by thrashing the spokesman of this unpopular sect, while the Roman lictors took no notice. His name was Sosthenes. As the name is not very common, this may