Chapter 19—Meeting with the Elders “And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.” Thus Luke describes the reception of the apostle to the Gentiles on his arrival at Jerusalem. Although Paul everywhere encountered prejudice, envy, and jealousy, he also found hearts that were open to receive the glad tidings which he brought, and that loved him for the sake of Christ and the truth. Yet, cheering as was the kindly greeting he received, it could not remove his anxiety as to the attitude of the church at Jerusalem toward himself and his work. Their real feelings would be more fully seen in the meeting with the elders of the church, to take place on the morrow. {LP 207.2}

“Og da vi kom til Jerusalem, tog brødrene imod os med glæde." Sådan beskriver Lukas apostlenes modtagelse hos hedningene da de kom til Jerusalem. Selvom Paulus overalt var omgivet af fordomme, skinsyge og jalousi, fandt han også at hjerterne var åbne for de glade nyheder han kom med, og som elskede ham for Kristus og sandhedens skyld. Selvom den venlige hilsen var opmuntrende, kunne det ikke fjerne bekymringen for Jerusalem-menighedens holdning over for ham selv og hans arbejde. Deres virkelige følelser ville bedre kunne ses under mødet, hos de menighedens ældste, der fandt sted om morgnen.