only they would that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.
The Judean Christians suffered extreme poverty from national calamities and the relentless plunder of their persecutors. It was fitting that the Gentiles, who owed them the inestimable gift of the gospel, should assist them. I willingly did what the apostles requested, thus cutting off the pretext my adversaries sought.
AI summary
From the start there was a division in the Church: those born Jews clung to the ceremonial law though it was dead in Christ; those born Gentiles embraced pure Christianity. Peter served the former, Paul the latter. That Paul could labor fourteen years among the Gentiles without question from the other apostles proves he depended on none of them, but held equal authority with them all.
AI summary
Commenting on Galatians 2:1-10
They asked me to remember the poor Christians in Judea, who suffered under persecution and loss of property. This pledge would show I had not abandoned my countrymen for the Gentiles, and it would bind together the whole church in unity. Nothing could better heal the fear that alienation might grow between Jewish and Gentile believers.
AI summary