but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcised—
ExplanationCommentary
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.