And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
When Peter came up to Jerusalem after his mission to Cornelius, he was met because he had preached to Gentiles and had gone in to meet with them and eat with them in their houses. Those who contended with him were the Jewish believers described as of the circumcision, the brethren in Judea and the circumcision party, including church leaders to whom he had to answer for his dealings. Their contention was severe censure, for they were surprised and offended by such strange movements, looked upon his course as presumptuous, and feared it would tend to contradict his own teachings. He expected to be called to account for the visit, because to associate with Gentiles in this way violated Jewish tradition and crossed the boundary between Jews and Gentiles.
The objection reflected prejudice and the difficulty Jewish believers had in accepting that God was giving the Holy Spirit to the uncircumcised and extending the gospel beyond the Jews. That prejudice kept Gentiles who received the gospel from being accepted as equals to Jewish disciples without circumcision. The dispute marks the opening of a new phase and change for the Christian church, in which God was breaking down that prejudice and teaching those who love and fear Him to accept Gentile believers who received the gospel. Heavenly guidance was needed to bring this change about.
Peter had to explain his experience with Cornelius to the church leaders, giving his account of his vision and of the Holy Spirit coming upon Gentiles as upon Jews. That account broke down their prejudice, so they stopped objecting, praised God, and accepted that God had granted Gentiles repentance leading to life, opening the way for the gospel to go forward among them. Accepting this change required believers to be willing to learn and to yield their own ideas to God's instruction.
When Peter came up to Jerusalem after his mission to Cornelius, he was met because he had preached to Gentiles and had gone in to meet with them and eat with them in their houses. Those who contended with him were the Jewish believers described as of the circumcision, the brethren in Judea and the circumcision party, including church leaders to whom he had to answer for his dealings. Their contention was severe censure, for they were surprised and offended by such strange movements, looked upon his course as presumptuous, and feared it would tend to contradict his own teachings. He expected to be called to account for the visit, because to associate with Gentiles in this way violated Jewish tradition and crossed the boundary between Jews and Gentiles.
The objection reflected prejudice and the difficulty Jewish believers had in accepting that God was giving the Holy Spirit to the uncircumcised and extending the gospel beyond the Jews. That prejudice kept Gentiles who received the gospel from being accepted as equals to Jewish disciples without circumcision. The dispute marks the opening of a new phase and change for the Christian church, in which God was breaking down that prejudice and teaching those who love and fear Him to accept Gentile believers who received the gospel. Heavenly guidance was needed to bring this change about.
Peter had to explain his experience with Cornelius to the church leaders, giving his account of his vision and of the Holy Spirit coming upon Gentiles as upon Jews. That account broke down their prejudice, so they stopped objecting, praised God, and accepted that God had granted Gentiles repentance leading to life, opening the way for the gospel to go forward among them. Accepting this change required believers to be willing to learn and to yield their own ideas to God's instruction.