Galatians 2:7-9 7 But when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, recognized the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Paul now records the response of the so-called pillars of the faith in Jerusalem about the issue of Gentiles . There were some significant early church leaders who were part of this discussion: Cephas (Peter), James, and John. Paul reveals a mission strategy that appears in Acts but is more explicit here. God called Peter to take the gospel to the circumcised, and God called Paul to go to the uncircumcised. Paul may be using these terms here for Jews and Gentiles on purpose, since this is a key topic of this letter later on and a major issue facing the Galatian churches. Acts 10 records how Peter’s mission to the Jews was even challenged. He came to realize through the conversion of Cornelius and family that the gospel was also for the Gentiles. Peters letters seem addressed to Jews, but the contents expand out to include also Gentiles. Peter had to make a paradigm change. Paul’s visit to Jerusalem challenged the leaders there also to make a paradigm change.
Peter’s mission was effective. He traveled extensively, eventually making his way to Rome where he was imprisoned and eventually martyred. Little is known of his travels. Paul recognizes that God was at work Peter’s ministry to the Jews just as God worked through Paul’s ministry. Obedience to the divine call was the most critical point, not to which group or another one went. God’s plan was for all people to hear the gospel, first to the Jews and then out to the rest of the world.
Fortunately, the apostles and leaders James (Jesus’ brother), Peter, and John recognized God at work. This shows their maturity in understanding the mission of God and their flexibility to acknowledge new methods and strategies. These three key people, the most highly respected in the early church, saw God’s grace at work in Paul. They affirmed his ministry and recognized this was part of God’s plan. This was another opportunity for the early church to diversify in order to be more effective.
These early Christian leaders could have had a big disagreement at this point, but they did not. They joined together in fellowship. Paul was not going to compromise his gospel, but at the same time, he wanted unity. He may have also wanted to know how or why these agitators were showing up. Who sent them and why? Whoever it was, we do not know, but we do know the outcome of this meeting.
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