He goes up afterwards from Antioch to Jerufalem:

SE C T. III.

The Apostle, in Profecution of that Defign on which he entered in the preceding Section, informs the Galatians of his Journey from Antioch to Jerufalem, and of his Interview with the Apoftles there, fourteen Years after his Converfion, Gal. II. 1,---10.

GALATIANS II. 1.

Have juft been telling you,
I Have juft been telling you, that quickly Sect.

my Journey from Damafcus to
Jerufalem, I traversed the regions of Sy-
ria and Cilicia, being then in a great Mea-
fure unknown to the Churches in Judea,
otherwife than by my general Character,
and what they had heard of the furprizing
Change wrought in me: I am now to
add, that about fourteen Years after my
Converfion (a), when I had preached the
Word fome Time at Antioch, I went up
again to ferufalem with Barnabas, to con-
fult with the Church there upon the
grand Question of the Freedom of the

Gen

(a) Fourteen Years after.] As it is certain, that Paul faw both Peter and James in that Journey to Jerufalem, of which we have an Account Acts xv. 4. & feq. it is very natural to fuppofe he would mention it here, and that this is the Journey which he now refers to: (Compare Vol. iii. Sect. 33. Note (a), pag. 232. and ver. 9. of this Chapter :) And as we have found Reason to believe, that the Council then held at Jerufalem did not happen later than the Year 49, it feems reasonable to reckon the fourteen Years here mentioned from his Converfion, and not from the Conclufion of those Travels through Syria and Cicilia, which he had mentioned Ver. 21. of the foregoing Chapter: For as we cannot fuppofe him to have finished his Tour through thofe Countries in much less than four Years after his Conversion, such a Computation will bring back that ever memorable Event to the Year 31, which was two Years before Christ's Death. He does not here mention his going up to Jerufalem in the Year 43, with what had been collected at Antioch for the poor Brethren in Judea, (of which we read Acts xi. 29, 30. xü. 25.) because he then faw none of the Apostles; and the Queftion here was about the Opportunities he might have had of converfing with them.

(b) Took

23

3.

Gal. II. z.

24

Where he tells the Apostles what he had preached.

Sect. 3. Gentiles from the Mofaick Law; (Acts

Gal. II. 1.

xv. 2.) and I took Titus alfo with me (b), though he was uncircumcifed, that I might therein fhew my Chriftian Liberty, and affert that of my Gentile Brethren, against those who were fo zealous in their 2 Attempts to invade it. But I then went up, not to receive Inftructions in my Work from any of the Apoftles there, or to be confirmed in my Office by them, but by the Appointment of a fpecial Revelation (c), and to fubferve a very different and important Purpose, in which the Peace and Liberty of the Church were much concerned. And when I was arrived there, and had the Pleasure of meeting my Brethren, I explained at large and freely laid before them the Contents of that Gofpel, which I preach among the Gentiles, not only fo far as it relates to the Exemption of the Gentile Converts from any Obligation to obferve the Mofaick Law, but likewife

with

(b) Took Titus alfo with me.] This is the ear left Mention that we meet with of Titus; for he is no where mentioned by St. Luke in the Acts, and what we read of him in the fecond Epiftle to the Corinthians, (2 Cor. ii. 13. vii. 6, 14. viii. 6.) as well as in that to Timothy, 2 Tim. iv. 10. was later by fome Years. He is here faid to have been a Greek, (Ver. 3.) and being born of Gentile Parents was not circumcifed: But where, or when he was converted, is uncertain; only we may conclude he was converted by St. Paul, from the Title he gives him of his own Son after the common Faith; (Tit. i. 4.) and as he now took Titus with him from Antioch to Jerufalem, fo he employed him afterwards on several Occafions, and appears to have regarded him with great Affection and Endearment.

(c) Went up by Revelation.] Dr. Whitby fuppofes in his Note upon this Place, that as St. Paul had faid before, that he received the Gospel which he preached by the Revelation of Jefus Chrift, (Chap. i. 12.) He only means by what he now declares, that he went up according to the Revelation which he then received, and in this Journey acted fuitably to that Revelation which had conftituted him the Apostle of the Gentiles, telling the Church at Jerufalem what Things he had done among the Gentiles in Purfuance of it. But it seems rather to be here implied, (as I have obferved elsewhere, Vol. iii. Sect. 33. Note (a), pag. 232.) that in their fending Paul and Barnabas to Jerufalem, the Church at Antioch were directed by a Revelation made, either immediately to Paul himfelf, or to fome other of the Prophets there, relating to the important Bufinefs they were fent upon.

(d) But

Titus was not compelled to be circumcifed.

25

Gal. II. 1.

with refpect to the Deliverance of the Sect. 3.
Jews themselves from the Bondage of it:
Which gave them an Opportunity of feeing
how fully I was inftructed in the Mind
of Chrift, and how little I need any
farther Teachings from them: But this
Account however I gave, not in a publick
Affembly, but privately (d) to those who
were of greatest Note and Reputation in
the Church; left fome fhould have been
found, who would have cavilled at it, and
by abufing fome of the Particulars, would
have represented us as differing from each
other; in Confequence of which it might
be feared, I should hereafter run, or hi-
therto bad run in vain, as the good Ef-
fects of my future or paft Labours would
have been leffened or obftructed by the
Increase of their Prejudices; and in par-
ticular, the Intent of my Journey to Je-
rufalem might have been hindered, had I
then opened my Thoughts too fully in the
Prefence of a large and promifcuous Af-
fembly.

(d) But privately.] I have elfwhere fhewn at large, that the Secret here referred to was not, as hath been fo confidently afferted," his preaching the Gofpel to the Idolatrous Gentiles," which was a Fact it cannot be fuppofed he fhould endeavour to conceal from any: But the Point which he communicated thus in private, was "the Exemption, not of the Gentile Converts only, but of the Jews themselves from "the Obfervance of the Mofaic Ceremonies, as what they were no longer bound "to under the Gospel, any farther than as the Peace and Edification of others were concerned." On this (as I have fhewn) there were fufficient Reasons why he fhould chufe to be on the Referve at prefent; yet when the Purpofe of his Journey had been anfwered, and he had left Jerufalem, he ufed great Freedom afterwards in publickly declaring his Opinion. See Vol. iii. Sect. 33. Note (d), page 232. and Sect. 35. Note (a), pag. 246.

VOL. V.

D

(e) Nei

3

26

Sect.

4

The Apoftle yielded nothing to the falfe Brethren.

4 And that because of falfe Brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to fpy out our Liberty, which we have in Chrift Jefus, that they might bring us into Bondage.

3. my Gentile Brethren: For neither Titus Greek, was compelled to who was then with me, being a Greek, and be circumcifed; Gal, II. 3. ftill continuing in a State of Uncircumcifion, was compelled to fubmit to that Rite (e), though fo many maintained it was abfolutely neceffary to be circumcifed in order to Salvation. (Acts xv. I, 5.) And I was more averfe to [that,] and rather favoured the DiGinclination of Titus to it, because of the falfe Brethren (f), [that were] artfully introduced, not only into the Church, but the Miniftry, upon a general Apprehenfion of their Piety, without being fufficiently informed of their Principles and Tempers; who had before flipped in among us at Antioch, to fpy out and make their ill-natured Remarks upon our Liberty, which we have in Chrift JeJus with Regard to thefe Things, that by impofing on the Church there, which confifted chiefly of Gentile Converts, they might find Means to bring us into a fervile Bondage to the Law of Mofes, by urging the Neceffity of fubmitting to the grievous and painful Yoke of its Ceremonies : To whom, whatever Court fome thought proper to make to them, or whatever place by Subjection, no not perfonal Condefcenfions even I myself might fometimes yield to, (1 Cor. ix. 19, 20.) we did not either at Antioch, or at

5

Jeru

5 To whom we gave

for

(e) Neither Titus-was compelled, &c.] This Conduct of Paul with Refpect to Titus, in not fubmitting to his being circumcifed, when it was infifted on as neceffary to Salvation, is very well confiftent with what he afterwards did without Conftraint, to promote the Circumcifion of Timothy in different Circumftances; (Acts xvi. 3.) as is fhewn in the Note on that Text, Vol. iii. Sect. 36. Note (a), pag. 250.

f) Because of the falfe Brethren.] I know not how far fo late a Writer as Epiphanius is to be credited, in affirming, (as he does, Har. xxviii.) that Cerinthus the Heretick infifted abfolutely on the fewish Obfervances, and having raifed up feveral Jews into a moft violent Oppofition against St. Peter, on his firft going to the Gentiles, (Acts xi. 2, 3.) contended afterwards at Antioch and Jerufalem for the Neceffity of Circumcifion. (Acts xv. 1, 5.)

Thofe of real Note added nothing to him.

for an Hour ; that the Truth of the Gospel might continue with you.

6 But of these who seem

ed to be somewhat, (what foever they were, it maketh no Matter to me : GoD accepteth

Jerufalem, give Place by any Compliance Sect. 3.
or Subjection to their infolent Demands for
Gal. II. 5.
Jo much as an Hour; but always entered
our open Protest against their Principles,
that the Truth of the Gospel might continue
with you, and you might reft affured by
all the Proofs we could give, that the
Christian Religion was fufficient for Jufti-
fication and Salvation, without the Super-
addition of the Jewish Rituals.

This was my Conduct at Jerufalem on 6
this grand Occafion, nor was it upon the
whole difapproved by thofe of my Bre-
thren for whom I had the greatest Regard.
But even of thofe, who indeed appeared to
be the most confiderable and of the greatest
Note and Eminence (g), however some
would set them up above me, as hav-
ing converfed with Chrift here on Earth
and been Apostles long before me, I muft
needs fay, that whatfoever Advantage they
had, or how great foever they formerly
were as to any perfonal Privileges, it makes
no Difference as to me, nor does at all af-
fect my Character, or fet me upon this
Account beneath them as to my Know-
ledge in the Gofpel; (fince GOD, who
called

(g) But of thefe, who appeared to be confiderable.] The Apostle had before declared what was his Conduct with refpect to the falfe Brethren, and now proceeds to those who were of real Note and Reputation: And there is no fuch Difficulty in the Conftruction here, as that there fhould be a Neceffity of fupplying any Thing to compleat the Senfe, or of fuppofing an Ellipfis of the Article at the Beginning of the Verfe, which instead of removing a Difficulty, would only involve the Conftruction, which is obvious enough as it ftands, if the Parenthefis be rightly placed, fo as only to include, (GOD accepteth no Man's Perfon ;) and without any Suppleme it or Tranfpofition, the Senfe of the whole Verfe is easy. And as there is no Doubt but o donales in this Verfe, as well as in Ver. 2. and 9. is to be understood of those who really were Men of Note and Eminence, and does indeed refer to the Apostles themselves, (who are exprefly named in Ver. 9.) however it may be a ♬teral Tranflation, it carries in it to an English Ear (as Mr. Locke obferves,) too diminishing a Senfe, to render it as if St. Paul had only fpoke of them, as thofe who feemed to be fomewhat, and who feemed to be Pillars. I have therefore rendered it, as expreffive of the Character of thofe, who indeed appeared to be confiderable, and were confeffedly of the first Rank and Pillars of the Church.

D 2

(b) They