The disciples themselves yet cherished a regard for the ceremonial law, and were too willing to make concessions, hoping by so doing to gain the confidence of their countrymen, remove their prejudice, and win them to faith in Christ as the world’s Redeemer. Paul’s great object in visiting Jerusalem was to conciliate the church of Palestine. So long as they continued to cherish prejudice against him, they were constantly working to counteract his influence. He felt that if he could by any lawful concession on his part win them to the truth, he would remove a very great obstacle to the success of the gospel in other places. But he was not authorized of God to concede so much as they had asked. This concession was not in harmony with his teachings, nor with the firm integrity of his character. His advisers were not infallible. Though some of these men wrote under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, yet when not under its direct influence they sometimes erred. It will be remembered that on one occasion Paul withstood Peter to the face because he was acting a double part. {LP 213.2}

Disciplene selv viste endnu hensyn til ceremoniloven, og var for villig til at gøre indrømmelser, og håbede derved at vinde deres landsmænds tillid, fjerne deres fordomme, og vinde dem i troen på Kristus som verdens Genløser. Paulus store formål med at besøge Jerusalem var at forsone Palæstinas menighed. Lige så langt som de fortsatte med at gemme på fordomme imod ham, arbejdede de hele tiden på at modvirkede hans indflydelse. Han følte at hvis han på lovlig vis fra sin side kunne vinde dem til sandheden, ville han fjerne en meget stor forhindring mod evangeliets fremgang til andre steder. Men han var ikke bemyndiget af Gud til at indrømme så meget som de bad om. Denne indrømmelse var ikke i harmoni med hans lære, heller ikke med den faste renhed i hans karakter. Hans modstandere var ikke ufejlbarlige. Selvom nogle af disse mænd skrev under Guds Ånds inspiration, fejlede de nogle gange når de ikke var under direkte indflydelse. Det vil huskes at Paulus ved en anledning modarbejdede Peter fordi han handlede tvetydigt.