Paul, that meek apostle, who was willing to become all things unto all men, yet he enters into a holy war with them that would introduce circumcision into the Christian church; because,
1. He would have no works of the law to be an ingredient into our salvation; but the free grace of God in Christ to be all in all.
2. That our freedom from all the ceremonial law, acquired by the death of Christ, might not be diminished.
3. That the spreading of the gospel might not be hindered, but that Christ might be accepted and honoured amongst all. Now if circumcision had been retained, it would have kept possession for all the other ceremonies to have continued, or re-entered, there being the same reason for the one as for the other, and the circumcised person was obliged by his circumcision to observe them all, Galatians 5:3,4. They determined; the church at Antioch, where this controversy was moved. Unto the apostles; James, Peter, and John who are thought to have been then at Jerusalem, the rest being probably gone to preach Christ in other parts.