What happened when Paul was brought before the Jerusalem church about his Gentile ministry?
When Paul was brought from Antioch to Jerusalem, he confronted Jewish believers about his ministry to Gentiles. The prominent leaders added nothing to him. He had to stand on his own two feet as they examined his Gentile ministry, and the conference contributed nothing to his message.
Les explains that this event in Galatians 2 occurred about 51 A.D., roughly twenty-two years after Pentecost. Paul rehearsed how he had been brought back to Jerusalem from Antioch to face the Jewish believers who acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, concerning his ministry to Gentiles. The leaders who seemed to be somewhat, that is the disciples and probably others, added nothing to him. Paul was put on the carpet about his Gentile ministry and had to stand on his own two feet. As he writes under the Holy Spirit's instruction, the Jerusalem conference added nothing to his message.
But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
More Questions
By the time Paul wrote Galatians, about 22 years after Pentecost, what had happened to the standing of the Jerusalem leaders?
About twenty-two years after Pentecost, when Paul writes by inspiration, the Jerusalem leaders still thought they were 'the somewhat,' but they were not, because their power base was slipping away.
Was Paul just venting at the Jerusalem apostles when he wrote about those who seemed to be somewhat?
Paul's statement about "those who seemed to be somewhat" was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, not merely as Paul getting back at the Jerusalem leaders personally.
Was Paul just being spiteful when he said the Jerusalem apostles added nothing to him?
Paul's statement that the Jerusalem leaders 'added nothing to him' was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and was not merely Paul getting back at them personally.