Vin AGNOSTICISM: A EEJOINDER 293 



testified by James in a passage of the Acts cited 

 further on. In the first Epistle to the Corinthians, 

 dealing with the question of eating meat offered to 

 idols, it is clear that Paul himself thinks it a 

 matter of indifference ; but he advises that it 

 should not be done, for the sake of the weaker 

 brethren. On the other hand, the Nazarenes of 

 Jerusalem most strenuously opposed Paul's 

 " gospel," insisting on every convert becoming a 

 regular Jewish proselyte, and consequently on his , 

 observance of the whole Law ; and this party was led 

 by James and Peter and John (Galatians ii. 9) 

 Paul does not suggest that the question of principle 

 was settled by the discussion referred to in Gala- 

 tians. All he says is, that it ended in the prac- 

 tical agreement that he and Barnabas should do 

 as they had been doing, in respect to the Gentiles ; 

 while James and Peter and John should deal in 

 their own fashion with Jewish converts. After- 

 wards, he complains bitterly of Peter, because, 

 when on a visit to Antioch, he, at first, inclined to 

 Paul's view and ate with the Gentile converts; 

 but when " certain came from James," " drew back, 

 and separated himself, fearing them that were of the 

 circumcision. And the rest of the Jews dissembled 

 likewise with him ; insomuch that even Barnabas 

 was carried away with their dissimulation " 

 (Galatians ii. 12-13). 



There is but one conclusion to be drawn from 

 Paul's account of this famous dispute, the settle- 



