When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, х zeeteeseoos (G2214), not suzeeteeseoos (G4802) - of the Received Text, which has no Uncial support.] That Paul and Barnabas should take the lead in this debate was natural, not only as being themselves Jews, but as having taught at Antioch the opposite doctrine. But the zealots (whom the apostle afterward scrupled not to call "false brethren," Galatians 2:4) were not to be put down by argument; and as they appear to have succeeded so far as to create an uneasy feeling among the Gentile converts (Acts 15:24, and Galatians 2:11-13), alleging probably that the brethren at Jerusalem were on their side,
They (the brethren at Antioch) determined, х etaxan (G5021), or 'arranged,'] that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them. We know the name of only one of these "other" deputies - "Titus;" but as the apostle says of him, that being "a Greek" he would not compel him to be circumcised-in order that the liberty of the Gentile converts might be vindicated in his person (Galatians 2:4-6) - we may conclude that the other deputies were of the uncircumcised as well as he, and were sent expressly to represent that interest at Jerusalem. (On the time of this visit, see Introduction.)
Should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostle and elders about this question. In Galatians 2:2, the apostle says he "went up by revelation;" but this is not inconsistent (as is by some alleged) with its being the present journey. As before he was sent forth both by the Holy Spirit and by the church at Antioch (Acts 13:3-4). so now, though going to Jerusalem with a commission from the church at Antioch, he might at the same time be divinely directed to comply with that call.