Paul devotes almost two chapters (Gal. 1:1-2:21) to the fact that he did not receive his grace gospel message from Jesus’ “the Twelve” or anyone else on the scene before him; he received it by revelation from Christ (v12).

In the meeting of Acts 15, Paul privately communicated to the Jerusalem Messianic church leaders “that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles” (Gal. 2:2) just to make sure they heard it from him directly. Their response was clear: those (Israel) who Jesus had sent to “all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” now actually Agreed to Turn Over… To Paul…  Their Ministry to The Nations (Gentiles). This is a momentous event of great proportion. Unfortunately, it is too often overlooked or misunderstood by religionist today.

“And when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me (Paul), they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we (Paul) should go unto the heathen, and they (the Twelve) unto the circumcision. Galatians 2:9 (KJV)

“The Gospel of The Circumcision”:

Paul writes of two different gospels here in Gal. 2:7 KJV Only;

“But contrariwise (as opposites), when they saw that the gospel of (that gospel pertaining to) the uncircumcision (the Gentiles) was committed unto me, as the gospel of (that gospel pertaining to) the circumcision (Israel) was unto Peter;”

So-called Modern Bible translators and teachers have mistakenly rendered the words “gospel of the circumcision” as “the gospel to the circumcision.” This is clearly and scripturally wrong to do so.  Just consider the facts:

Peter, along with the other eleven and the Messianic Pentecostal church at large, was commissioned to go to “all nations” (Matt. 28:19), to “every creature” (Mark. 16:15), to “all nations” (Luke 24:47), to “whosesoever” (John 20:23) and to “the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts1:8).

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (including all Gentiles), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

You see, to claim in Gal. 2:7 that Peter had been entrusted with the gospel “to” only the circumcision is simply not true to the facts of the commission given to him by Christ Himself in Matt. 29:19, during Jesus’ post-resurrection ministry. What makes the KJV’s “the gospel of the circumcision” so difficult for many is this ‘turnover agreement’ of v9.

“And when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me (Paul), they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, That We Should Go Unto The Heathen (Gentiles), and They Unto The Circumcision (Israel).” (Galatians 2:9 KJV Only)

Here then, those (Israel’s “little flock”) who had clearly been commissioned by Jesus Christ to go to “all nations” in Matt. 28:19, then just as clearly ‘turned over’ to Paul their ministry to “the heathens (Gentiles).”

The significance of this must not be overlooked. With the ‘turnover agreement’ of Acts 15, as referenced in Gal. 2:9, the so-called “Great Commission” went out of commission.

But, how could this be? By what authority did these Jerusalem Messianic Church leaders do such a thing as turning over their Gentile ministry to Paul?

Let’s consult the Scriptures for more detail.

The Apostolic Authority of The Twelve:

During our Lord’s earthly ministry, Jesus gathered disciples to whom He gave authority to act on His behalf. Considering His present exile to “the right hand of the Father” in heaven and His rejection in Acts 7, these verses may seem controversial, but they are clear.

“Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and Whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 18:18)

“And I give unto thee (Peter) the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19)

“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23)

The above verses, especially the latter two, are used by the Roman Catholic Church to claim authority both for its Popes, as Peter’s supposed successors, and for its priests to forgive sins. Protestants do little more than ignore these statements, offering meaningless explanations. The real answer, however, is a dispensational one. Since Israel’s commission, recorded in John’s gospel, is as consistently ignored by Protestants and it is claimed by Romanists, we will use Jesus’ commission as a basis for considering the apostolic authority of “the Twelve” and how they actually came to use that authority… to bind and loose certain ‘ministries.’

Jesus’ whole commission to Peter and the Twelve includes the power of the remission of sins:

“²¹Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: As My Father Hath Sent Me, Even So Send I You. ²²And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive Ye The Holy Ghost: “Whose Soever Sins Ye Remit, They Are Remitted Unto Them; And ²³Whose Soever Sins Ye Retain, They are Retained” (John 20:21-23).