name, of life itself, but the Gospel and our faith in Jesus Christ--we will
not stand for it that anybody take them from us.


VERSES 7, 8. But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the
uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision
was unto Peter; [For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the
apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the
Gentiles.]

Here the Apostle claims for himself the same authority which the false
apostles attributed to the true apostles. Paul simply inverts their argument.
"to bolster their evil cause," says he, "the false apostles quote the
authority of the great apostles against me. I can quote the same authority
against them, for the apostles are on my side. They gave me the right hand of
fellowship. They approved my ministry. O my Galatians, do not believe the
counterfeit apostles!"

What does Paul mean by saying that the gospel of the uncircumcision was
committed unto him, and that of the circumcision to Peter? Did not Paul
preach to the Jews, while Peter preached to the Gentiles also? Peter
converted the Centurion. Paul's custom was to enter into the synagogues of
the Jews, there to preach the Gospel. Why then should he call himself the
apostle of the Gentiles, while he calls Peter the apostle of the
circumcision?

Paul refers to the fact that the other apostles remained in Jerusalem until
the destruction of the city became imminent. But Paul was especially called
the apostle of the Gentiles. Even before the destruction of Jerusalem Jews
dwelt here and there in the cities of the Gentiles. Coming to a city, Paul