Meeting with the Elders
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tangible proof of the love and sympathy felt by these new disciples for
the mother-church, and their desire to be in harmony with the Jewish
brethren. Here was evidence also, that Paul had faithfully fulfilled the
promise given, when at the council years before he had been urged to
remember the poor.
These contributions had cost the apostle much time and anxious
thought, and much wearisome labor. They far exceeded the expec-
tations of the Jewish elders, and might have been expected to call
forth warm expressions of gratitude and appreciation. But Paul’s
half-acknowledged fears as to the manner in which the gift would be
received were realized. He could only find comfort in the conscious-
ness that he had done his duty, and had encouraged in his converts a
spirit of generosity and love.
After the presentation of the gifts, Paul gave the brethren an account
of his manner of labor, and its results. He had on former occasions
stood before the same assembly, in the same city. It was before the
same audience at the apostolic council (
Acts 15
) years before, that he
related his experience in his conversion, and the great work which God
had wrought through him among the Gentiles. The Spirit of the Lord
then witnessed to the word spoken, and under its influence the council
yielded their prejudices, and expressed themselves as in harmony with
the position of the apostle, and sent an address to the churches to that
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effect. But the same battle was again to be fought, the same prejudices
once more to be met.
Paul now gave his brethren an account of his labors since he parted
with them four years before, and “declared particularly what things
God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.” As he described
the work at Ephesus, which had resulted in raising up that large church
in the very stronghold of heathenism, none could listen without inter-
est. But he necessarily touched upon points that would irritate those
who had cherished prejudice against him. He could not recount his
experience in Galatia without stating the difficulties which he had
encountered from those Judaizing teachers who had attempted to mis-
represent his teaching and pervert his converts. In describing the work
at Corinth, he could but mention those who had spread confusion and
strife among the church there. Yet he related all with great gentleness
and courtesy, carefully avoiding everything that would unnecessarily