Chapter XLVI: Section 1

PAUL'S ACCOUNT OF THIS INTERVIEW QUOTED.--ACTS ACCOUNT OF WHAT FOLLOWED UPON IT.

We now come to the last of the four different and more or less distant occasions on which a personal intercourse, in some way or other, is recorded as having had place, between Paul on the one part, and the Apostles or some of them on the other, antecedently to that, on which Paul's history, so far as any tolerably clear, distinct, and material, information has descended to us, closes. Of this interview, the scene lies at Antioch: Peter having, for some consideration no otherwise to be looked for than by conjecture, been led to pay a visit, to that place of Paul's _then_ habitual abode, after, and, as seems probable, in consequence of, Paul's third recorded visit to Jerusalem--his _Deputation Visit_.

Let us now cast an eye on the documents. Respecting Paul's disagreement with Peter, the only one we have, is that which has been furnished us by Paul himself. It consists of the following passage in his Epistle to his Galatians.

GALATIANS 2:11 to 16.

But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face,
because he was to be blamed.--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.--And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him;
insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their
dissimulation.--But when I saw that they walked not uprightly
according to the truth of the Gospel, I said unto Peter before
_them_ all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of
Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles
to live as do the Jews?--We _who are_ Jews by nature and not
sinners of the Gentiles,--knowing that a man is not justified by
the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we
have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the
faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works
of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Let us now see the account, given in the Acts, of what passed in Antioch, in relation to Paul, Barnabas and Silas,--during a period, which seems to be either the same, or one in contiguity with it, probably antecedent to it.

ACTS 15:35 to 41.

Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching
the word of the Lord with _many others_ also.--And some days after,
Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren,
in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see
how they do.--And Barnabas determined to take with them John whose
surname was Mark.--But Paul thought not good to take him with them,
who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to
the work.--And the contention was so sharp between them, that they
departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark and
sailed unto Cyprus;--And Paul chose Silas and departed, being
recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.--And he went
through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

With regard to Paul's separation from Barnabas, departure from Antioch, and taking Silas for a companion,--we have nothing from Paul himself: nothing, from any other source, than, as above, the Acts.

In Paul's account, however, may be seen a passage, Gal. 2:13, by which some light is thrown upon the breach of Paul with Barnabas. In the Acts, though the _"contention" is said to be "sharp,"_ no cause is stated for it, other than a difference respecting the choice of a companion: namely, on an excursion, which they are represented as having agreed to make, in the company of each other, as before.

But, according to Paul, he had had cause of complaint, against his old friend Barnabas, on another account. Barnabas had sided with the Apostles: Barnabas had been "carried away with their dissimulation"; by the dissimulation of those Apostles of Jesus, the virtuous simplicity of the self-constituted Apostle, so he desires his Galatian disciples to believe, had been foiled.