Who was the head of the Jerusalem church when emissaries came to Antioch?
James was the headman of the Jerusalem church when emissaries came from his congregation in Jerusalem to Antioch. Before their arrival, Peter ate with Paul and Gentile believers, but after these Jewish people came up from Jerusalem, Peter withdrew and separated himself, fearing the men from Jerusalem.
Les explains that before certain men came from James, Peter ate with Paul and the Gentile believers regardless of the meal. James was now the headman of Jerusalem, and emissaries came to Antioch from James's congregation. After these Jewish people arrived, Peter became scared and afraid of them. To maintain the testimony of Paul's Gospel of Grace and prove to the Jews from Jerusalem that believers are free to eat whatever they want and are no longer under the dietary laws, Peter should have stood firm, but instead he gave in. He refused to go in and eat with Paul's Gentile converts, which upset Paul. Les says Paul called Peter two-faced, because when no one from Jerusalem was present, Peter had no problem eating with the Gentiles, but as soon as those people came from Jerusalem, he acted like a good Jew and could not do that. Paul charged that Peter withdrew and separated himself, fearing not God but the men from Jerusalem.
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.