Gallio. Gal'i-o, n. A carefree, easygoing man who avoids conflict and responsibilities. He is usually a Roman citizen. The name comes from Gaius Julius Caesar Gallius. As a Christian name, it was popular among both men and women in the early years of the church. It may have been chosen to reflect the character of its bearer, who lived as a follower of Jesus Christ but who was not willing to make any serious commitments or changes in his life. Gallio was a Roman governor of Achaia who became a friend of Paul's. Although he was a pagan, he had no interest in religion; rather, he enjoyed being around people, especially philosophers, and listening to them debate issues of the day. Gallio often traveled about with his assistant, Sopater, so he would not be away from Rome too long. When Sopater fell sick, Paul replaced him as Gallio's aide until he could find another job. This time, however, the situation lasted for several years because Sopater died. During this period, Paul preached the gospel in many cities including Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, and Jerusalem.