Galatians 2:1–7

Verse 1. Then fourteen years after. That is, after my former going to Jerusalem, which was seventeen years after my conversion, an. 51. See Tillemont. Witham. The cause of Saint Paul’s second journey to Jerusalem was as follows. Some brethren coming from Judea to Antioch, there maintained the necessity of circumcision and the other Mosaic rites, asserting that without them salvation could not be obtained. Saint Paul, upon his return to Antioch, strongly defended, in conjunction with Barnabas, the liberty of the gospel. As the contest grew warm, it was resolved to depute Paul and Barnabas to consult the other apostles and ancients of Jerusalem. By the approbation of the living and speaking tribunal, which all are commanded to hear, the Scriptures are not made true, altered or amended; they merely are declared to be the infallible word of God, a point only to be learned by authority; hence that memorable saying of Saint Augustine: “I would not believe the gospel unless the authority of the Church moved me.” Cont. ep. fund. c. v.

Verse 2. According to revelation, or an inspiration from the Spirit of God, and conferred with them, as an equal, says S. Jerom.—But apart to them, who seemed to be something considerable. That is, with the other apostles, lest I should run in vain, not for fear of false doctrine, says Saint John Chrysostom but that others might be convinced that I preached not any thing disapproved by the apostles, which would prejudice the progress of the gospel. Witham.—The particle but, which begins this verse, is quite useless: the Latin Vulgate and the Greek copies have it indeed, but in many copies it is not found; it is omitted also by S. Jerom and Theodoret; and this verse is united in sense with the preceding. Titus was not compelled to be circumcised on account of the false brethren, and so forth

Verse 3. Neither Titus … circumcised, who had been a Gentile. A convincing proof, says Saint John Chrysostom that even according to the other apostles, the Gentiles converted, were not subject to the Jewish laws. Witham.

Verse 5. To whom we yielded not. S. Jerom takes notice that in some Latin copies read, to whom we yielded; but that was not the true reading by the Greek and Syriac. Witham.

Verse 7. As to Peter was that of the circumcision. Calvin pretends to prove by this, that Saint Peter and his successors are not head of the whole Church, because Saint Peter was only the apostle of the Jews. But Saint Paul speaks not here of the power and jurisdiction, but of the manner that Saint Peter and he were to be employed. It was judged proper that Saint Peter should preach chiefly to the Jews, who had been the elect people of God, and that Saint Paul should be sent to the Gentiles; yet both of them preached both to Jews and Gentiles: and Saint Peter, by receiving Cornelius, first opened the gate of salvation to the Gentiles, as he says of himself, (Acts 15:7) that God made choice of him, that the Gentiles by his mouth should hear the gospel, and believe. That Saint Peter was head of the Church, see the notes on Matthew 16. and John 21. Witham.