The Great Concession

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The Great Concession​

https://graceambassadors.com/midacts/the-great-concession

This originally appeared as an email delivered on
Saturday, March 1st, 2025.​

You have heard of the so-called “Great Commission” where Peter and the apostles are told to “Go” and “teach all nations” (Matt 28:19).

But have you heard of what could be called the “Great Concession”? This is when Peter and the Jerusalem apostles limit their ministry to go to the world in concession to the special apostleship given to Paul (Gal 2:7-9).

Although the Great Concession is more important for the operation of the church today than the former Commission, most have not considered it.

Peter’s concession in Galatians 2 that Paul would go to Gentiles is related to the doctrinal disagreement in Acts 15 over the law and circumcision for Gentiles. Paul’s ministry and message was upheld in that hearing. (Paul had received both from the Lord.)

Peter, James, and the other Jerusalem apostles were not merely conceding that Paul could minister among the Gentiles, nor that the Gentiles did not need to perform the law (something already known by the law).

They were conceding that the Gentiles would be established on the doctrine the Lord revealed by Christ to Paul. Paul would be the master builder.

We never hear of Peter in the book of Acts after the Great Concession. They bound themselves to minister to the circumcision (as Jesus had done, Rom 15:8). For them, the Great Commission was superseded by the Great Concession.

Paul’s commission from Christ to go to the world was recognized, but it was not with the message of Matthew 28. The so-called Great Commission included water baptism, teaching the law (as Peter did obediently), and did not include the mystery of Christ revealed later (Eph 3:1-7).

When the church tries to practice the Great Commission, as Biblically stated, they fail to see what changed afterward.

In Galatians 2 and Acts 15 (mid-Acts), Peter conceded that Christ had given to Paul something greater from the Lord: the apostleship of all nations without the law or circumcision according to the revelation of the mystery (Eph 3:9).

The Great Concession occurred because of the Greater Commission given to Paul.

For your understanding,

Justin “mid-Acts” Johnson