request of God. What is more, I won the indorsement of the apostles. My
opponents lost out."

The matter upon which the apostles deliberated in conference was this: Is the
observance of the Law requisite unto justification? Paul answered: "I have
preached faith in Christ to the Gentiles, and not the Law. If the Jews want to
keep the Law and be circumcised, very well, as long as they do so from a right
motive."


VERSE 2. But privately to them which were of reputation.

This is to say, "I conferred not only with the brethren, but with the leaders
among them."


VERSE 2. Lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Not that Paul himself ever thought he had run in vain. However, many did think
that Paul had preached the Gospel in vain, because he kept the Gentiles free
from the yoke of the Law. The opinion that obedience to the Law was mandatory
unto salvation was gaining ground. Paul meant to remedy this evil. By this
conference he hoped to establish the identity of his Gospel with that of the
other apostles, to stop the talk of his opponents that he had been running
around in vain.


VERSE 3. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was
compelled to be circumcised.