1: Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas and took Titus with me also 2: And I went up by apokalypsis and communicated unto them [that] the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles but privately to them which were of reputation lest by any means I should run or had run in vain 3: But neither Titus who was with me being a Greek was compelled to be circumcised 4: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in who [came in] stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus that they might bring us into bondage 5: To whom we yielded hypotagÄ“ noun no not for an hour that the truth of the Good News might continue with you 6: But of these who seemed to be somewhat whatsoever they were it makes no matter to me God accepts no one’s person for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me 7: But contrariwise when they saw that [the] good news of the uncircumcision was committed to me as the circumcision was to Peter [1] 8: For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles 9: And when James Cephas and John who seemed to be pillars perceived the grace that was given to me they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship that we should go to the gentiles and they to the circumcision 10: Only they would that we should remember the poor the same which I also was forward to do 11: But when Peter was come to Antioch I withstood him to his face because he was to be blamed [2] 12: For before that certain came from James he did eat with the Gentiles Luke 15:1-2 but when they were come he withdrew and separated himself fearing them which were of the circumcision [3] 13: And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their hypocrisy [4] 14: But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel I said to Peter before them all [5] If you being a Jew live after the manner of Gentiles and not as do the Jews why [do] you compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews [6] 15: We by nature Jews and not out of the nations sinners 16: Knowing that humans are not justified by the acts of the law nomou but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the acts of the law nomou for by the acts of the law nomou shall no flesh be justified 17: But if while we seek to be justified by Christ we ourselves also are found sinners is therefore Christ the minister of sin God forbid 18: For if I build again the things which I destroyed I make myself a transgressor 19: For I through the law nomou am dead to the law nomO [7] that I might live unto God 20: I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ [who] lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me 21: I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness come by through law nomou then Christ is dead in vain
[1] Galatians 2:7: Paul preached to both
Jews and gentiles as did Peter, but later focused on reaching gentiles. All of
the Apostles of the Lamb, including Peter, preached primarily to Jews but would
also preach to gentiles as the example of Cornelius showed. In the end, they
were all martyred except for John.
[2] Galatians 2:11: Oh no! Paul made a
scene…in public…He did not first go to Peter privately but demanded
accountability and confronted him about his hypocrisy in front of everyone. Paul
said he “withstood” Peter to his face. Peter must have been a formidable
character. He certainly was loved and respected. And yet Paul confronted and
withstood him to his face, publicly. And he was right to do so.
[3] The James, Paul refers to, is James the
brother of Jesus, [he mentions him by name a verses down]. James, the brother
of John (one of the original 12) was martyred early on, about the time of
Peter’s vision, showing him that gentile believers are accepted by God, their
status before God, different from Jewish believers Acts 11:25-29, Acts
12:1-2, Galatians 1:15-20.
As formidable, loved, and respected as Peter was, he had sins
of the heart that needed to be dealt with. And it took an embarrassing public confrontation
to accomplish this. Until Paul confronted him, Peter continued to harm the Body
of Christ through racial discrimination. Entrenched unscriptural and sinful
attitudes are difficult to part with, but Christians are commanded to guard
their hearts and to walk transparently before God and humanity. Even after his
experience with Cornelius, Peter remained a public respecter of persons. Try to
imagine how painful it must have been to the gentile Believers [Peter had
previously taken meals with] when he suddenly refused to have anything to do
with them after other Jewish leaders showed up at the gathering.
Peter would have been demonstrating arrogance and that
proud look that is included in the seven sins that God hates. Why? Because he
was afraid. The Bible also says the fearful will find their place in the Lake
of Fire. Fearful people hurt and even kill other people. Fear is just as much a
sin as pride and arrogance.
[4] Galatians 2:13: When we behave as hypocrites,
we cause others within our spheres of influence to fall into sin with us. Paul
watched, horrified, as people of God, one after another, including his own
partner in ministry, Barnabas [who had already disputed with the Jews about
this very thing Acts 15], followed Peter’s fearful and callous example
towards gentile believers at the gathering. Our sin always hurts and adversely
affects others, and not always only the ones it is directed towards. We all
have spheres of influence.
[5] Galatians 2:14: Most people shy away
from instigating public conflict, especially Christians. But right is right and
wrong is wrong, and we should never shy away from standing for what is right.
The gentile Christians at this gathering were in need of a Jewish advocate, and
Paul rose to the occasion.
[6] Galatians 2:14: This is a good question
for Messianic Christians who criticize non-Messianic Believers, trying to
convince them to become Jews.
[7] Paul did not use certain words,
translated as law, to refer exclusively to Torah and other words
exclusively to the traditions. We have Jesus’ example in the gospels that every
variation of the word, NomO [nomou and several others], was used in
reference to Torah.
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