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.{LP 122.1}

Paulus harme blev oprørt. Hans røst hævedes i hård irettesættelse. "Om I er omskårne, skal Kristus ikke gavne jer noget." Gruppen der fastholdt delvis at kristendommen var værdiløs uden omskærelse, satte sig selv op imod apostlen, og han måtte møde dem i de menigheder der var oprettet eller besøgt i Jerusalem, Antiokia, Galatien, Korint, Efesus og Rom. Gud tilskyndede ham til at gå i det store Kristus-forkyndende arbejde, og Kristus korsfæstet, omskærelse eller ej havde ingen betydning. Jødernes parti så på Paulus som en apostel, tilbøjelig til at nedbryde partiskel som Gud havde oprettet mellem israelitterne og verden. De besøgte enhver menighed som var blevet organiseret, skabe splittelser. De fremholdt at enden ville retfærdiggøre midlerne, de spredte falske anklager imod apostlene, og bestræbte sig på at få ham i vanry. Da Paulus besøgte menighederne, og fulgte efter disse nidkære og skruppelløse modstandere, mødte han mange som så på ham med mistillid, og nogle som endog foragtede hans arbejde.