_Then fourteen years after_ my conversion: _I went up again to
Jerusalem_ This seems to be the journey mentioned Acts 15., several
passages here referring to that great council, wherein all the
apostles showed that they were of the same judgment with him. From the
history which the apostle gives of... [ Continue Reading ]
And _I went up_ Not by any command from the apostles, nor to receive
instructions in my work from them; but _by revelation_ From God,
directing me to go. The apostle does not say to whom the revelation
was made: it might be made to Paul himself, or to some of the prophets
then residing at Antioch. B... [ Continue Reading ]
_But neither Titus_, &c. As if he had said, That the apostles, to whom
I communicated the doctrine which I preach, acknowledged it to be the
true gospel of Christ, is evident from this, that not even _Titus, who
was with, me_, though _a Greek_, or converted Gentile, _was compelled
to be circumcised_... [ Continue Reading ]
_But of those who seemed to be somewhat_ Who were most esteemed among
the apostles; _whatsoever they were_ How eminent soever; _it maketh no
matter_ No difference; _to me_ So that I should alter either my
doctrine or my practice. _God accepteth no man's person_ For any
eminence in gifts or outward p... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when James_ Probably named first because he. was bishop of the
church in Jerusalem; and _Cephas_ Speaking of him at Jerusalem, he
calls him by his Hebrew name; _and John_ Hence it appears that he also
was at the council, though he be not particularly named in the Acts.
_Who seemed to be_ Or, as... [ Continue Reading ]
_But_, &c. The argument here comes to the height: Paul reproves Peter
himself; so far was he from receiving his doctrine from man, or from
being inferior to the chief of the apostles; _when Peter was come to
Antioch_ After Barnabas and I were returned thither; _I withstood him
to the face_ Or oppose... [ Continue Reading ]
_When I saw that_, in this matter, _they walked not uprightly_ Ουκ
ορθοποδουσι, did not walk _with a straight step_, or in a
plain and straight path; _according to the truth of the gospel_ That
is, according to their own knowledge of the simplicity of the true
gospel doctrine; _I said to Peter, befo... [ Continue Reading ]
_We_ St. Paul, to spare St. Peter, drops the first person singular,
and speaks in the plural number; Galatians 2:18, he speaks in the
first person singular again by a figure, and without a figure,
Galatians 2:19, &c. _Who are Jews by nature_ By birth, and not
proselytes. As in the first part of his... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if while we seek to be justified by Christ_ Through the merit of
his obedience unto death, by simply believing in him, and in the
truths and promises of his gospel; _we ourselves are still found
sinners_ Continue in sin; if we are still under the guilt and power of
sin, in an unpardoned, unrene... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle proceeds in describing how he was freed from the dominion
as well as guilt of sin, and how far he was from continuing in the
commission of it. _I am crucified with Christ_ To sin, to the world,
and all selfish and corrupt desires and designs; my _old man_, my
sinful nature, with its affe... [ Continue Reading ]