7 But on the contrary, when they [really] saw that I had been entrusted [to carry] the Gospel to the uncircumcised [Gentiles, just as definitely] as Peter had been entrusted [to proclaim] the Gospel to the circumcised [Jews, they were agreeable];
8 For He Who motivated and fitted Peter and worked effectively through him for the mission to the circumcised, motivated and fitted me and worked through me also for [the mission to] the Gentiles.
Do you see a difference here in verse 8. Paul is giving God the glory for using Peter to tell the Truth, but earlier to James and the other leaders, Paul says whether they were leaders or not he didn’t know. The Truth is that the leaders in Jerusalem were probably being taught more by Paul than they were teaching Paul. For guys who were caught up in works that probably had to really bug them. They were seeing Paul being used powerfully and they are trying to work on their own and they are just not seeing the same results. But how could they deny what our Father was doing through Paul?
9 And when they knew (perceived, recognized, understood, and acknowledged) the grace (God's unmerited favor and spiritual blessing) that had been bestowed upon me, James and Cephas (Peter) and John, who were reputed to be pillars of the Jerusalem church, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, with the understanding that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised (Jews).
Think about what we are being shown: after twelve years of preaching the church finally recognized Paul and began to fellowship with him. So what church was Paul working with before that? So many believe that you have to be in a church and answering to church leaders to be used by our Father, so what church allowed Paul to preach before? The glorious Truth is that Paul wasn’t answering to a bunch of so called religious leaders and our Father still used him powerfully to proclaim the Truth that was setting people free. So once again, do not fret about it if our Father does not have you in a church. Because the Truth is that He has you in The Church that has not been made with human hands. Our Father will never allow us to fail. If He has us going to a physical church then great and if He doesn't great, He is our Father either way!
10 They only [made one stipulation], that we were to remember the poor, which very thing I was also eager to do.
In Christ we cannot help but to be eager to help the poor. We are one with Jesus and He is very concerned with the poor, so we can be no other way.
Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38
Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all. And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all. Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought (gave back) the amount received from the sales And laid it at the feet of the apostles (special messengers). Then distribution was made according as anyone had need. Acts 4:32-35
The Holy Spirit gives us our Father's measure to help the poor. We have our Father's physical, spiritual, and soulful abundance to be able to be charitable unto every good work, 2 Corinthians 9:8.
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