{Contrary to the law} (para ton nomon). They did not
accuse Paul of treason as in Thessalonica, perhaps Paul had been
more careful in his language here. They bring the same charge
here that the owners of the slave-girl brought in Philippi
( 16:21 ) Perhaps they fear to go too far with Gallio, for they
are dealing with a Roman proconsul, not with the politarchs of
Thessalonica. The Jewish religion was a _religio licita_ and they
were allowed to make proselytes, but not among Roman citizens. To
prove that Paul was acting contrary to Roman law (for Jewish law
had no standing with Gallio though the phrase has a double
meaning) these Jews had to show that Paul was making converts in
ways that violated the Roman regulations on that subject. The
accusation as made did not show it nor did they produce any
evidence to do it. The verb used anapeithei means to stir up by
persuasion (old verb here only in the N.T.), a thing that he had
a right to do.