True, it is, that the persuasion of any such need is altogether inconsistent with that independence, which, in such precise and lofty terms, we have seen him declaring in his Epistle to his Galatians,--is sufficiently manifest. But, in the current chronology, the date, ascribed to that Epistle, is by five years posterior, to the date ascribed to the commencement of this excursion: date of the excursion, A.D. 53; date of the Epistle, A.D. 58: difference, five years: and five years are not too great a number of years, for the experience of success and prosperity, to have raised to so high a pitch, the temperature of his mind.[36] Even before this time, we find him even outstretching the concessions, which, in that decree, in the case of the Gentiles, in compliance with the scruples of the Jewish disciples they had to deal with, we have been seeing made by the Apostles, in favor of the Mosaic law. Abstinence--from meat offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication--composed all the Mosaic observances exacted in that decree. To these, he, in his practice, at this time, added another, and _that_, in respect of extent, in a prodigious degree a more important one: to wit, the submitting to circumcision. For, to this painful observance,--in which a submission to all the other Mosaic observances was implied,--he had already subjected his new convert Timotheus, whom, in this excursion, in addition to Silas, he took with him for a companion. Born of a Greek father as he was,--adult as he was,--he took him, says the historian, and circumcised him. Circumcised him--and why?--"_Because of the Jews, which were in those quarters._"[37] FOOTNOTES: [29] Acts xv. 1 to 4:--"1. And certain men which came down from Judea, taught the brethren, _and said_, Except ye be circumised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.--2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question.--3. And being brought on their way by the Church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.--4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the Church, and of the Apostles and Elders; and they declared all things that God had done with them." [30] Gal. i. 18, 19. "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.--9. But other of the Apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother." Acts 15:4. "And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the Church, and of _the_ Apostles and Elders; and they declared all things that God had done with them."