Note 2 at Gal. 2:2: Paul traveled to Jerusalem to defend the gospel which God had given him to preach. He makes it clear that this gospel was not "learned" through man, but given by a direct revelation of God (see note 2 at Gal. 1:12, p. 1055; see note 12 at Gal. 1:10, p. 1055).

Note 3 at Gal. 2:2: Paul didn't compromise, but he didn't seek to offend either. The fact that he had this private meeting with the leaders of the Jerusalem church shows that he cared about how they received his message and the impact that their opinion would have. He sought peace with these leaders and he obtained it. If they would have refused to listen to the Holy Spirit and had rejected the gospel, then it can be assumed that Paul would have heeded his own instructions in Galatians 1:8-9.

There are many people today who have a truth from God who promote that truth at the expense of all other truths. They totally ignore the admonitions of unity among the body of Christ (see notes 1 and 2 at 1 Cor. 1:10, p. 860) and justify their actions by bragging on their refusal to compromise. This was not the way Paul conducted himself. His actions here should serve as an example to us all.

Note 4 at Gal. 2:2: Three of these leaders were mentioned by name (Gal. 2:9)-James the Lord's brother and overseer of the Jerusalem church (see note 2 at Jn. 2:12, p. 88), John (see INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, p. 27) the apostle and son of Zebedee, and the apostle Peter (see note 3 at Mt. 16:18, p. 262), who had already been called before the Jerusalem church for his work among the Gentiles (see Acts 11:1-18).

So the "big four" are together-Peter, James, John, and Paul-to discuss the problems of the gospel and the law among the Jews and Gentiles. They came into unity and presented a united witness to the truth of the gospel.