Paul further disproved the accusations of his enemies, by showing that his position as an apostle of Christ had been acknowledged by the council at Jerusalem, and that in his labors among the Gentiles he had complied with the decisions of that council. Those who were seeking to destroy his influence, professed to acknowledge Peter, James, and John as pillars of the church. They were constantly extolling these apostles, and endeavoring to prove them superior to Paul in position and authority. But Paul showed that his enemies could not justify their course by a pretended regard for these apostles. While he honored them as faithful ministers of Christ, he showed that they had not attempted to instruct him, neither had they commissioned him to preach the gospel. They were convinced that God had called him to present the truth to the Gentiles, as he had designated Peter to go especially to the Jews. Hence they acknowledged before the council Paul’s divine commission, and received him as a fellow-laborer of equal position with themselves. {LP 193.1}

Paulus modbeviser sine fjenders anklager igen, ved at vise sin position som en Kristi apostel er blevet anerkendt af rådet i Jerusalem, og at han i sit arbejde iblandt hedningene har gået med dette råds beslutninger. Dem som søger at ødelægge hans indflydelse, bekendte at anerkende Peter, Jakob og Johannes som kirkens grundpiller. De roste hele tiden disse apostle, og dristede sig til at vise, at de var Paulus overlegen i position og myndighed. Men Paulus viste at hans fjender ikke retfærdiggøre deres handlemåde ved foregiven hensyn til disse apostle. Medens han ærede dem som trofaste Kristi tjenere, viste han at de ikke havde prøvet at undervise ham, de havde heller ikke bestilt ham til at forkynde evangeliet. De var overbevist om at Gud havde kaldt ham til at bringe sandheden til hedningene, idet han havde udtænkt at Peter skulle tage sig særlig af jøderne. Fra da af anerkendte de Paulus guddommelige opgave over for rådet, og tog imod ham som en medarbejdere, på lige for med dem selv.