Paul’s indignation was stirred. His voice was raised in stern rebuke: “If ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.” The party maintaining that Christianity was valueless without circumcision arrayed themselves against the apostle, and he had to meet them in every church which he founded or visited: in Jerusalem, Antioch, Galatia, Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome. God urged him out to the great work of preaching Christ, and Him crucified; circumcision or uncircumcision was nothing. The Judaizing party looked upon Paul as an apostate, bent upon breaking down the partition wall which God had established between the Israelites and the world. They visited every church which he had organized, creating divisions. Holding that the end would justify the means, they circulated false charges against the apostle, and endeavored to bring him into disrepute. As Paul, in visiting the churches, followed after these zealous and unscrupulous opposers, he met many who viewed him with distrust, and some who even despised his labors.{6BC 1111.2}

Paulus harme var oprørt. Hans stemme opløftes med en streng irettesættelse: "Om I er omskåret, skal Kristus ikke gavne jer noget." Det parti der fastholdt at kristenheden var værdiløs uden omskærelse satte sig selv op imod apostlen, og han måtte møde dem i enhver menighed, som han grundlage eller besøgte, i Jerusalem, Antiaokia, Galatien, Korint, Efesus og Rom. Gud tilskynde ham til at tage ud i det store arbejde at forkynde Kristus, og Ham korsfæstet; omskærelse eller ikke omskærelse havde ingen betydning. Det jødiske parti så på Paulus som en frafalden, bøjede sig for at nedbryde skillemuren som Gud havde sat mellem israelitterne og verden. De besøgte alle de menigheder han havde organiseret, og skabte splittelse. Fastholdt at enden vil retfærdiggøre midlerne, de omdelte falske beskyldninger mod apostlen, og vovede at bringe ham i vanry. Da Paulus besøgte menighederne, fulgte efter disse nidkære og samvittighedsløse modstandere, mødte han mange som så ham med mistillid, og nogle foragtede endog hans arbejde.