Gallio’s original name was Lucius Annaeus Novatus. But, upon being adopted by the rhetorician Lucius Junius Gallio, he assumed the name of his adopter.

An inscription from Delphi points to the date 51-52 C.E. for Gallio’s term as proconsul of Achaia. (Acts 18:12) Only fragmentary, the inscription’s text has had to be reconstructed, but it definitely contains the name of “Lucius Junius Gallio, . . . proconsul.” Historians are generally agreed that the text is a letter from Emperor Claudius Caesar and that the number “26” found in it refers to Claudius’ having received the imperial acclamation for the twenty-sixth time. (It was Claudius who restored Achaia to the position of a separate province responsible to the senate and hence having a proconsul.) The evidence is that this letter was written in the first half of 52 C.E., for other inscriptions indicate that Claudius was acclaimed emperor for the twenty-seventh time before August 1, 52 C.E. A Carian inscription and an inscription on the aqueduct called the Aqua Claudia at Rome place Claudius’ twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh imperial acclamations within the year of his twelfth period of tribunician power. This twelfth tribunician period corresponded to January 25, 52 C.E., to January 24, 53 C.E. Gallio’s proconsulship of Achaia (an office that ran for a year, starting with the beginning of summer) therefore evidently ran from the summer of 51 C.E. to the summer of 52 C.E.

GAMALIEL

(Ga·maʹli·el) [recompense of God].

1. The son of Pedahzur of the tribe of Manasseh and the chieftain of his tribe. (Num. 1:10, 16) Gamaliel was one of the twelve chieftains designated by Jehovah to aid Moses and Aaron in numbering the sons of Israel for the army, from twenty years old upward. (Num. 1:1-4, 10) He was over the army of his tribe, which was a part of the three-tribe division of the camp of Ephraim. (Num. 2:18, 20; 10:23) After the setting up of the tabernacle the chieftains made their presentations, directed by Jehovah to be used for carrying on the service of the tent of meeting. Gamaliel also represented his tribe in presenting his offering on the eighth day for the inauguration of the altar.—Num. 7:1-5, 10, 11, 54-59.

2. A member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee and a Law teacher, at whose feet the apostle Paul had been instructed according to the strictness of the ancestral Law. (Acts 5:34; 22:3) Gamaliel is generally regarded as identical with Gamaliel the Elder. Gamaliel the Elder was greatly esteemed, being the first one to have the title of “Rabban” bestowed upon him. This honorary title was even higher than that of “Rabbi.” Concerning him the Mishnah says: “When Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, the glory of the Law ceased and purity and abstinence died.” (Sotah, 9. 15) Gamaliel evidently was broad-minded and not fanatical in his views, as reflected by the counsel he gave on the occasion that Peter and the other apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin. By citing examples from the past, Gamaliel illustrated the wisdom of not interfering with the work of the apostles, and then added: “If this scheme and this work is from men, it will be overthrown; but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them . . . you may perhaps be found fighters actually against God.”—Acts 5:34-39.

GAMES

Early in man’s history an interest in diversion and entertainment became manifest. Jubal, in the seventh generation from Adam, is said to be “the founder of all those who handle the harp and the pipe.” (Gen. 4:21) In course of time, at least in the post-Flood period, games were also developed.

EGYPT AND MESOPOTAMIA

In widely scattered locations of Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia, archaeologists have unearthed various forms of gaming boards, chessmen, dice and other game pieces, some of them dating back to times before Abraham. A relief from an Egyptian temple gate portrays Ramses III playing a game similar to draughts (checkers) with one of his concubines. The ancient game boards were of clay, limestone, ivory or ebony, some being beautifully inlaid. An ivory board from a royal gaming room in Crete was trimmed in gold and silver and decorated with a mosaic of rock crystal and blue paste. Boards were found that could be used for more than one game, some being very complicated, and most games used dice or throw sticks to determine the moves. Exquisitely carved dice have been discovered in Egyptian tombs and at other locations, including Ur.

Egyptian paintings, in addition to depicting dancing and instrument playing, show scenes of Egyptian girls playing with balls, juggling several at a time. Other youthful games, such as a kind of tug-of-war, involved team play. Marbles were also popular.

ISRAEL

No direct reference is made in the Bible to games among the Hebrews, but there are scattered indications of certain forms of recreation in addition to music, singing, dancing and conversation. Zechariah 8:5 tells of children playing in the public squares, and the singing and dancing of boys are mentioned at Job 21:11, 12. In Jesus’ time children played at imitating happy and sad occasions. (Matt. 11:16, 17) Excavations in Palestine have produced children’s toys such as rattles, whistles and miniature pots and chariots. Job 41:5 may indicate the keeping of tame birds. It appears likely that target shooting with arrows as well as slings was practiced. (1 Sam. 20:20-22, 35-40; Judg. 20:16) However, competitive games as such do not appear to have been in practice among the Jews until the Hellenic period.

Riddles and guessing games were popular in Israel, as illustrated by the riddle Samson propounded to the Philistines.—Judg. 14:12-14.

GREECE

At about the time that Isaiah began to prophesy in Judah during King Ahaz’ reign, the Greeks began their famous Olympic athletic contests in honor of Zeus, in the year 776 B.C.E. While the games at Olympia remained the most famous, three other Greek towns became important centers of the contests. On the Isthmus near Corinth were held the Isthmian Games, consecrated as sacred to Poseidon. Delphi featured the Pythian Games, while the Nemean Games, also in honor of Zeus, were held in Argos.

The Olympic Games were celebrated every four years and were of profound religious significance. Religious sacrifices and the worship of the Olympic fire were prominent features of the festival. The Isthmian Games near Corinth were held every two years.

The basic program in all the contests included foot racing, wrestling, boxing, discus and javelin throwing, chariot racing, and other events. Participants took a vow to keep the rigid ten-month training schedule, which occupied most of their time. The