A Private Meeting

"It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain." (Galatians 2:2 - New American Standard)

Paul’s opponents might argue that, better late than never, Paul finally went to get the approval of the more important Apostles. Paul says that this was not so. The reason that he was willing to bring this issue to Jerusalem was because of a revelation. We don’t know the details of this, but God, by some means, told Paul to go to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles there.


Paul gives us some details not recorded in Acts. Assuming that Paul is writing of the same meeting as recorded in Acts chapter fifteen, we learn that Paul meet privately with James, Peter and John before the more public discussion started. He did this to ensure that his case would be clearly understood and that he might have the full support of these three men who were of reputation. James was the pastor of the church. Peter and John were the most respected of the Apostles.

Paul does not mean when he says that he did this lest he had run in vain that he had any doubts about either his message or his Apostleship. What concerned him was the potential for a split between Jewish and Gentile Christians. This would have been a great setback to the Gospel ministry. Most Christians at this time were Jewish. To lose their support and assistance would cripple Paul’s ministry for years.