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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 2:9

Verse 9 9.And when they perceived the grace. They who treated with contempt the grace of God, by which the most eminent apostles had been led to admire and reverence Paul, are charged with hateful and proud disdain. If they should allege that they were ignorant of that which the apostles knew from the beginning, the hypocritical pretense was not to be endured. This admonishes us to yield to the grace of God, wherever it is perceived, unless we choose to contend with the Holy Spirit, whose will... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:1-10

The apostolic conference. Fourteen years elapsed between the first and second visits of Paul as apostle to Jerusalem. During this interval of severe work he had experienced the opposition of the Judaizers. He deemed it advisable, therefore, and was also impelled by the Spirit, to go up to have a conference with the apostles about the whole policy to be pursued in the Gentile mission. In the verses before us he relates what took place in connection with the conference. And here we learn— ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:1-10

Period of third visit to Jerusalem. Three preliminary points are mentioned. I. HE DID NOT YIELD ON THE QUESTION OF LIBERTY . 1 . No compulsion was used in the case of Titus. "But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised." This was a good ease for trying the question of liberty. Timothy, who was after this circumcised in accommodation to Jewish feeling, was of hail-Jewish extraction. Titus was of pure Gentile extraction. Was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:1-21

The chapter falls into two sections. Of these, viewed in their leading purport, the first ( Acts 15:1-10 ) exhibits the recognition formally accorded to St. Paul's gospel and work by the highest authorities of the Church of the circumcision; the second ( Acts 15:11-21 ) displays in a very stalking light the independence and co-ordinateness of his position when standing face to face with the very chiefest of the apostles. But while these seem to be their leading objects, we find the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:6-9

The apostle takes counsel with the other apostles on perfectly equal terms. He is still asserting his apostolic independence. I. HIS REBUKE OF THOSE WHO LEANED UPON AUTHORITY . "Those high in reputation; whatsoever they were, it maketh no difference to me: God respecteth no man's person." The apostle does not mean to disparage either the reputation or the authority of the other apostles. It was not his interest to do so, because it was important for him to show that he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:7

But contrariwise ( ἀλλὰ τοὐναντίον )l as 2 Corinthians 2:7 ; 1 Peter 3:9 . This " contrariwise " is illustrated by the foregoing note. When they saw ( ἰδόντες ); when they got to see. This implies that the fact was new to them. A few of them, no doubt, were apprised of it previously, Cephas in particular (see Galatians 1:18 and note); but the majority of that assemblage of apostles and elders knew Paul chiefly by hearsay, and hearsay not always the most friendly to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:7

Diversities of administrations. I. THE GOSPEL IS OFFERED TO MEN IS ALL CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE . It is for men of every race, practising all varieties of social habits, living in different stages of civilization, holding the utmost diversities of creed, viewing the gospel itself from many distinct standpoints. None are so privileged as not to need it—the circumcised want it. None are so neglected as to be excluded from it—the uncircumcised have it preached to them. In... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:8

For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision ( ὁ γὰρ ἐνεργήσας πέτρῳ εἰς ἀποστολὴν τῆς περιτομῆς ); he that had wrought on Peter's behalf for apostleship of the circumcision. In form, the sentence is an absolute statement of fact; but its bearing in the context would be fairly represented by rendering it relatively , "for that he who," etc.; for it was the perception of the fact here stated which led that assembly to the conviction... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:9

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me ( καὶ γνόντες τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι ἰάκωβος καὶ κηφᾶς καὶ ἰωάννης οἱ δοκοῦντες στύλοι εἶναι ); and perceiving of a certainty the grace that was given unto me , James and Cephas and John , those reputed to be pillars ( gave ) . This is the order in which the words stand in the Greek, in which the participle γνόντες ("perceiving of a certainty") stands... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 2:7

The gospel of the uncircumcision - The duty of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised part of the world; that is, to the Gentiles Paul had received this as his unique office when he was converted and called to the ministry (see Acts 9:15; Acts 22:21); and they now perceived that he had been specially intrusted with this office, from the remarkable success which had attended his labors. It is evidently not meant here that Paul was to preach only to the Gentiles and Peter only to the Jews, for... read more

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