Paul refused to yield, even temporarily, and insisted that Gentile believers did not have to keep the law of Moses.
When believing Pharisees in Jerusalem demanded that Gentile believers be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses, Paul and his companions did not give place by subjection even for an hour. He stood his ground so that the truth of the gospel might continue with the Gentiles. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul's response was an absolute refusal, not a compromise.
Acts 15:5 — This verse records the precise demand made by believing Pharisees that Gentile believers be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses.
Galatians 2:5 — Paul directly states that he did not give place by subjection, not even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might continue with the Gentiles.
In Acts 15:1, certain men came down from Judaea and taught that "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." Then in the Jerusalem meeting, Acts 15:5 records that "there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." This is the explicit legal demand that was pressed upon Paul. In Galatians 2, Paul gives his own account. He says that he went up by revelation and communicated the gospel he preached among the Gentiles, but privately to those of reputation. Then, concerning those who were pressing the demand, he writes: "To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you" (Galatians 2:5). Scripture therefore shows that Paul's refusal was absolute and was motivated by preserving the truth of the gospel for the Gentiles.
Les Feldick shows that the pressure on Paul came not from Christ-rejecting enemies but from believing Pharisees—men who believed that Jesus was the Christ but who were still tied to the Jerusalem church's law-based setting. In Acts 15, they did not merely suggest that circumcision and law-keeping might help; the word is "command." Les emphasizes the seriousness of the confrontation, describing a tremendous argument that probably went on for a good part of a day between Paul and these Jewish believers. Paul would not bend. Les points out that Paul said "No way" to making the law part of his message, and in Galatians 2 Paul said he did not give place by subjection, not even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might continue with the Gentile believers. If these Jewish believers had succeeded in putting Paul down and stopping his ministry, Les teaches, Christianity would have been stopped in its tracks and there would be no gospel of grace for the Gentile world. Peter eventually came to Paul's defense, recalling how God saved Gentiles at the house of Cornelius apart from Judaism. Les also explains that the Jerusalem leaders "seemed to be somewhat" but did not realize their Jewish program was slipping away and the Gentile program was ascending. Paul's stand preserved the gospel of grace for all future Gentile believers.
They demanded that the Gentile believers at Antioch be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:5). They also taught that unless someone was circumcised after the manner of Moses, he could not be saved (Acts 15:1). Les points out that the word "command" shows this was not a suggestion but a strong requirement.
Paul said the Jerusalem leaders "seemed to be somewhat" but to them he gave no place by subjection, not even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might continue with the Gentile believers. Les explains this means Paul did not surrender for a single minute to the pressure that he was wrong.
According to Les, if the Jewish believers in Jerusalem had succeeded in putting Paul down and stopping his ministry among the Gentiles, Christianity would have been stopped in its tracks, and there would have been no gospel of grace for the Gentile world. Paul withstood all this pressure so that the Gentiles might continue to receive the gospel of grace.
Peter eventually came to Paul and Barnabas's defense, remembering that about fourteen years earlier he had gone to the house of Cornelius and witnessed God saving Gentiles apart from Judaism. Les notes that the leaders did not realize their Jewish program was slipping away and the Gentile program was ascending.
The Demand to Circumcise and Keep the Law
Les identifies the believing Pharisees who demanded that Gentile believers be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses, showing the demand came from professing believers.
A Commandment, Not a Suggestion
Les emphasizes that the Jewish believers used the word 'command' and pictures the great argument between Paul and these law-keeping Jewish believers.
Paul's Absolute Refusal and Peter's Support
Les says Paul responded 'No way' and that Peter eventually came to his defense, recalling that God saved Gentiles at Cornelius's house apart from Judaism.
The Jerusalem Setting of the Conflict
Les describes the Jerusalem church as still based on law and circumcision, and notes Paul was called to answer for his message to the Gentiles.
Paul's Stand in Galatians
Les explains that Paul did not give in, even for an hour, and that his stand preserved the truth of the gospel for the Gentiles.
The Eternal Stakes of Paul's Stand
Les explains that if Paul's Gentile ministry had been crushed, there would be no gospel of grace for us; Paul withstood the pressure so the Gentiles could believe.
No Surrender for a Moment
Les interprets Paul's 'not for an hour' as meaning he did not give in for a minute to the pressure to place Gentile believers under the law.
The Reason for Paul's Resistance
Les ties Paul's Galatians account to Acts 15, showing he did not back down so the truth of the gospel might continue with the Gentiles.
Acts 15:1: And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
This verse shows the original demand that circumcision and the law of Moses were necessary for salvation.
Acts 15:5: But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
This verse records the exact demand made by believing Pharisees at the Jerusalem meeting.
Galatians 2:2: And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run in vain.
Paul explains that he presented his Gentile gospel privately to the recognized leaders.
Galatians 2:5: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Paul directly states his refusal to yield to the demand to put Gentiles under the law.
No. Paul said he did not give place by subjection, no, not for an hour (Galatians 2:5). Les emphasizes that Paul stood his ground and would not allow the Gentile believers to be brought under the Mosaic system.
They were certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed on Jesus, as recorded in Acts 15:5. Les notes these were not Christ-rejecting Pharisees but believers who still held to the Jerusalem church's law-based setting.
Peter remembered the events at Cornelius's house, where God saved Gentiles apart from Judaism. Les says Peter eventually came to Paul and Barnabas's defense, helping prevent the law-keeping Jews from squashing Paul's Gentile ministry.
He meant the gospel of grace to the Gentiles would continue unimpaired. Les explains that Paul withstood all the pressure so that Gentile believers, such as the Galatians, would continue hearing the gospel of grace.
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