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THE KING’ S BUSINESS
asserts, but of which there is not an iota o f proof, that was not according to the arrangement made between Paul and Peter and the other Apostles as late as A. D. 50, the time at which Paul is here writing. The reason why James and Cephas and John made this arrangement was because “ they saw that Paul (I) had been entrusted with the gospel o f the uncircumcisictn (i.e., the gospel for the Gentiles who were to be justified and received into the church without circumcision), even as Peter with the goSpel o f the circumcision (i.e., the gospel for the Jews who had been circum cised).” This they “saw” for themselves. They saw it from the manifest blessing of God on Paul’s labors among the Gentiles, and His manifest blessing upon the gospel Paul preached (cf. Acts 15:12). It was as evident that Paul had been entrusted with the gospel o f the uncircumcision as it was that Peter had been entrusted with “the gospel o f the circumcision.” Peter had been chosen of God to open the door to the Gentiles (Acts 10, entire chapter; 11:1-18;, 15:7) but Peter’s permanent work, his work as a whole, was with the Jews. Paul on his part did something among the Jews, but he was distinctly the Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 22:18-21). The proof that Paul was entrusted with the gospel to the Gentiles as truly as Peter was with the gospel to the Jews was that the same One, even God Himself (cf. 1 Cor. 12:6), who wrought for Peter unto the apostleship o f the circumcision, wrought for Paul al#o unto the Gentiles Jv. 8 , R. V .). The Apos tles at Jerusalem did not presume to oppose a ministry to which God had so manifestly set His seal. No, instead o f opposing they co-operated in it by giving to Paul and Bar nabas “the right hands o f partnership.” Would that we all also might learn to co-op erate in every ministry to which God mani festly sets His seal, even though there be many things in it which are not according to “our way o f doing things.” Let us never forget that God entrusts different men with different forms o f ministry and sets His seal upon them all and works for all.
“James and Cephas and John . . . were reputed to be pillars,” i. e., the church rested largely, as far as men could sfee, upon them. There was one wish to which James and Cephas and John ' gave utter ance, and only one; that was, that Paul and Barnabas should remember the poor, i. e., the Jewish Christians who at that time were in distress. But this “very thing” Paul was also zealous to do (cf. Acts 11:28- 30; 1 Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8:1-19; 9:1-15). Thursday, April 18 . Gal. 2 : 11 - 13 . In this passage Paul shows his independ ence o f the Jerusalem! Apostles in the clearest possible w ay: he had gone so far as to rebuke one o f them because he was clearly in the wrong. Paul also shows the utter inconsistency and untenability o f the position o f the Judaizers. Peter himself had come down to Antioch, the place where Gentiles were first received into the church, and the very center o f Gentile Christianity. On first reaching Antioch he acted upon the principles which God had taught him in such a striking way in the case o f Cor nelius (cf. Acts 10:9-12, 28, 29; 11:2, 3-13; 15:7-11), and did eat with the Gentiles. But when certain came down from Jerusalem from James, Peter knowing James’ leaning toward legalism (cf. Acts 21:18-26), and fearing what these from James might say, began to draw back and separate himself. The fear o f man brought a snare (Prov. 29:25), and Peter was caught in it. This does not at all affect Peter’s inspired authority as a teacher; for where Peter erred was not in teaching, but in practice. There is but one perfect life in the Bible, that o f Jesus. Even after receiving the Holy Ghost the Apostles were not by any means faultless. Paul in his loyalty to the truth resisted Cephas (Peter) to his face. Cephas on his part “stood condemned.” His own actions condemned him, for he him self did at one time what at another time he pretended not to do (eat with the Gen tiles). The rest o f the Jews were carried away with Peter’s example, and played the hypocrite with him. “Even Barnabas,” one
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