7. contrariwise--on the contrary. So far from adding any new light
to ME, THEY gave in
THEIR adhesion to the new path on which Barnabas and
I, by independent revelation, had entered. So far from censuring, they
gave a hearty approval to my independent course, namely, the innovation
of preaching the Gospel without circumcision to the Gentiles.
when they saw--from the effects which I showed them, were "wrought"
(Ga 2:8;
Ac 15:12).
was committed unto me--Greek, "I was entrusted with."
gospel of the uncircumcision--that is, of the Gentiles, who were to
be converted without circumcision being required.
circumcision . . . unto Peter--Peter had originally opened the door
to the Gentiles
(Ac 10:1-48; 15:7).
But in the ultimate apportionment of the spheres of labor, the Jews
were assigned to him (compare
1Pe 1:1).
So Paul on the other hand wrote to the Hebrews (compare also
Col 4:11),
though his main work was among the Gentiles. The non-mention of Peter
in the list of names, presciently through the Spirit, given in the
sixteenth chapter of Romans, shows that Peter's residence at Rome, much
more primacy, was then unknown. The same is palpable from the
sphere here assigned to him.
JFB.
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