doctrine held by the Roman Catholic Church that Peter was the head of the
church。 Those who； as popes； have claimed to be his successors； have no
Scriptural foundation for their pretensions。 Nothing in the life of Peter
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gives sanction to the claim that he was elevated above his brethren as the
vicegerent of the Most High。 If those who are declared to be the successors
of Peter had followed his example； they would always have been content to
remain on an equality with their brethren。
In this instance James seems to have been chosen as the one to announce the
decision arrived at by the council。 It was his sentence that the ceremonial
law； and especially the ordinance of circumcision； should not be urged upon
the Gentiles； or even recommended to them。 James sought to impress the minds
of his brethren with the fact that； in turning to God； the Gentiles had made
a great change in their lives and that much caution should be used not to
trouble them with perplexing and doubtful questions of minor importance；
lest they be discouraged in following Christ。
The Gentile converts； however； were to give up the customs that were
inconsistent with the principles of Christianity。 The apostles and elders
therefore agreed to instruct the Gentiles by letter to abstain from meats
offered to idols； from fornication； from things strangled； and from blood。
They were to be urged to keep the commandments and to lead holy lives。 They
were also to be assured that the men who had declared circumcision to be
binding were not authorized to do so by the apostles。
Paul and Barnabas were recommended to them as men who had hazarded their
lives for the Lord。 Judas and Silas were sent with these apostles to declare
to the Gentiles by word of mouth the decision of the council： 〃It seemed
good to the Holy Ghost； and to us； to lay upon you no greater
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burden than these necessary things； that ye abstain from meats offered to
idols； and from blood； and from things strangled； and from fornication： from
which if ye keep yourselves； ye shall do well。〃 The four servants of God
were sent to Antioch with the epistle and message that was to put an end to
all controversy； for it was the voice of the highest authority upon the
earth。
The council which decided this case was composed of apostles and teachers
who had been prominent in raising up the Jewish and Gentile Christian
churches； with chosen delegates from various places。 Elders from Jerusalem
and deputies from Antioch were present； and the most influential churches
were represented。 The council moved in accordance with the dictates of
enlightened judgment； and with the dignity of a church established by the
divine will。 As a result of their deliberations they all saw that God
Himself had answered the question at issue by bestowing upon the Gentiles
the Holy Ghost； and they realized that it was their part to follow the
guidance of the Spirit。
The entire body of Christians was not called to vote upon the question。 The
〃apostles and elders；〃 men of influence and judgment； framed and issued the
decree； which was thereupon generally accepted by the Christian churches。
Not all； however； were pleased with the decision； there was a faction of
ambitious and self…confident brethren who disagreed with it。 These men
assumed to engage in the work on their own responsibility。 They indulged in
much murmuring and faultfinding； proposing new plans and seeking to pull
down the work of the men whom God had ordained to teach the gospel message。
From the first the church has
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had such obstacles to meet and ever will have till the close of time。
Jerusalem was the metropolis of the Jews； and it was there that the greatest
exclusiveness and bigotry were found。 The Jewish Christians living within
sight of the temple naturally allowed their minds to revert to the peculiar
privileges of the Jews as a nation。 When they saw the Christian church
departing from the ceremonies and traditions of Judaism； and perceived that
the peculiar sacredness with which the Jewish customs had been invested
would soon be lost sight of in the light of the new faith； many grew
indignant with Paul as the one who had； in a large measure； caused this
change。 Even the disciples were not all prepared to accept willingly the
decision of the council。 Some were zealous for the ceremonial law； and they
regarded Paul with disfavor because they thought that his principles in
regard to the obligations of the Jewish law were lax。
The broad and far…reaching decisions of the general council brought
confidence into the ranks of the Gentile believers； and the cause of God
prospered。 In Antioch the church was favored with the presence of Judas and
Silas； the special messengers who had returned with the apostles from the
meeting in Jerusalem。 〃Being prophets also themselves；〃 Judas and Silas；
〃exhorted the brethren with many words； and confirmed them。〃 These godly men
tarried in Antioch for a time。 〃Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch；
teaching and preaching the word of the Lord； with many others also。〃
When Peter； at a later date； visited Antioch； he won the confidence of many
by his prudent conduct toward the
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Gentile converts。 For a time he acted in accordance with the light given
from heaven。 He so far overcame his natural prejudice as to sit at table
with the Gentile converts。 But when certain Jews who were zealous for the
ceremonial law； came from Jerusalem； Peter injudiciously changed his
deportment toward the converts from paganism。 A number of the Jews
〃dissembled likewise with him； insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away
with their dissimulation。〃 This revelation of weakness on the part of those
who had been respected and loved as leaders； left a most painful impression
on the minds of the Gentile believers。 The church was threatened with
division。 But Paul； who saw the subverting influence of the wrong done to
the church through the double part acted by Peter； openly rebuked him for
thus disguising his true sentiments。 In the presence of the church； Paul
inquired of Peter； 〃If thou； being a Jew； livest after the manner of
Gentiles； and not as do the Jews； why compellest thou the Gentiles to live
as do the Jews？〃 Galatians 2：13； 14。
Peter saw the error into which he had fallen； and immediately set about
repairing the evil that had been wrought； so far as was in his power。 God；
who knows the end from the beginning； permitted Peter to reveal this
weakness of character in order that the tried apostle might see that there
was nothing in himself whereof he might boast。 Even the best of men； if left
to themselves； will err in judgment。 God also saw that in time to come some
would be so deluded as to claim for Peter and his pretended successors the
exalted prerogatives that belong to God alone。 And this record of
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the apostle's weakness was to remain as a proof of his fallibility and of
the fact that he stood in no way above the level of the other apostles。
The history of this departure from right principles stands as a solemn
warning to men in positions of trust in the cause of God； that they may not
fail in integrity； but firmly adhere to principle。 The greater the
responsibilities placed upon the human agent； and the larger his
opportunities to dictate and control； the more harm he is sure to do if he
does not carefully follow the way of the Lord and labor in harmony with the
decisions arrived at by the general body of believers in united council。
After all Peter's failures； after his fall and restoration； his long course
of service； his intimate acquaintance with Christ； his knowledge of the
Saviour's straightforward practice of right principles； after all the
instruction he had received； all the gifts and knowledge and influence he
had gained by preaching and teaching the wordis it not strange that he
should dissemble and evade the principles of the gospel through fear of man；
or in order to gain esteem？ Is it not strange that he should waver in his
adherence to right？ May God give every man a realization of his
helplessness； his inability to steer his own vessel straight and safe into
the harbor。
In his ministry； Paul was often compelled to stand alone。 He was specially
taught of God and dared make no concessions that would involve principle。 At
times the burden was heavy； but Paul stood firm for the right。 He realized
that the church must never be brought under the control
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of human power。 The traditions and maxims of men must not take the place of
revealed truth。 The advance of the gospel message must not be hindered by
the prejudices and preferences of men； whatever might be their position in
the church。
Paul had dedicated himself and all his powers to the service of God。 He had
received the truths of the gospel direct from heaven； and throughout his
ministry he maintained a vital connection with heavenly agencies。 He had
been taught by God regarding the binding of unnecessary burdens upon the
Gentile Christians； thus when the Judaizing believers introduced into the
Antioch church the question of circumcision； Paul knew the mind of the
Spirit of God concerning such teaching and took a firm and unyielding
position which brought to the churches freedom from Jewish rites and
ceremonies。
Notwithstanding the fact that Paul was personally taught by God； he had no
strained ideas of individual responsibility。 While looking to God for direct
guidance； he was ever ready to recognize the authority vested in the body of
believers united in church fellowship。 He felt the need of counsel； and when
matters of importance arose； he was glad to lay these before the church and
to unite with his brethren in seeking God for wisdom to make right
decisions。 Even 〃the spirits of the prophets；〃 he declared； 〃are subject to
the prophets。 For God is not the author of confusion； but of peace； as in
all churches of the saints。〃 1 Corinthians 14：32；
33。 With Peter； he taught that all uni