Paul Takes a Stand (No More Racism) - Galatians 2:11-14

NOTE:

In verses RED is actual verse,

BLUE is my inserted thoughts for clarity,

and Green is the Greek meaning, not always seen in English.

v. 11-12

Now when Peter had come to Antioch [third largest city in the Roman Empire with a half million people] at this time , I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed [this shows us Paul’s Apostolic authority]; for before certain men came from James, he would eat [love/agape feast] with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew (Gk. Hupostello – In the imperfect tense meant gradually) and separated (Gk. Aphorizo – Complete and final separation) himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

PETER’s PRESPECTIVE:

Peter came to Antioch and, at first, he was enjoying 

fellowship with his Gentile brothers disregarding the

old taboos. He shared the common meal with his 

Gentile brothers.  It was all cool and good to eat

together until some strictly Jewish Christians from

Jerusalem came across Peter in Antioch.  Then, 

Peter “withdrew” in the Greek it meant he 

gradually pulled away from eating with the

Gentiles. Also, the word “separated” in the Greek 

meant a final separation from eating with Gentile 

believers.  

Peter let them (Jewish believers) get to him and he 

FEARED them.  Knowing they did NOT approve 

of a Jew EVER eating with a Gentile 

(even if both are saved – hmm!)

Peer pressure (in the form of FEAR) got the best of

him.  

Peter, so to speak, folded under the pressure (fear).

THOUGHT: Do we let the “fear of man” influence us 

in how we act or who we hang out with.

Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man brings a snare.”

Peter knew Gentiles could be saved – Acts 10, and in

Acts 15:9 he stated that God had “…put no

difference between us (Jews) and them (Gentiles).”

So his behavior of no longer eating with Gentiles was

nothing short of being hypocritical.

v. 13-14

And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward (lit. walking straight) about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all [public rebuke, not private], "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles [Peter no longer observed Jewish food regulations] and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

PAUL’s PRESPECTIVE:

Paul could not allow Peter to do this. It was hypocritical

on Peter’s part, and because of Peter’s role (influence)

in the early church, his hypocritical actions could lead 

others astray.

Although Peter was a leader of the church, he was 

acting like a hypocrite.  He knew better, yet he was 

driven by fear of what others would think. 

Paul knew that he had to confront Peter before his

actions damaged the church.  

Paul did not wait to correct Peter.  It made no 

difference to Paul that it was “one of the pillars”

of the church – Peter!  

It was wrong, and that was all that mattered to him. 

A famous name can never justify an infamous 

action to the point that other Jews believers

followed Peter’s (poor) example, and

EVEN Barnabas was influenced. (v. 13)

THOUGHT: Today, we see many high-profile 

ministers who are almost considered above 

correction.  The name of the minister or fame

of a Christian does not make them exempt from 

living Christ-like.  We need to stand for the

truth regardless of who it is that is promoting error.

With the acceptance of Christians being either 

Jewish believers (plus keeping the law and traditions)

and also of Gentile believers being Christian

(but not required to keep the law and Jewish traditions),

resulted in two distinct classes of Christians

(Jew believer more looking down on Gentile believer)

in the church.  Not a good thing.  This is a real problem

today, too.

Example: I see Jewish believers (original branch) acting 

like they’re one up on Gentile believers (grafted into 

the branch).  I think it’s great to see Jewish believers, 

but that doesn’t make them one up as believers 

because they are Jewish.  Also, people do this regarding

tongues or no tongues, water baptism sprinkled or 

immersed, etc, etc.  We will have varying views on

“non-essentials”areas, but we do need to stop making

these distinctions points of division, or acting like one is

a better Christian than another because of his

NON-ESSENTIAL beliefs.  

BOTTOM LINE WE ARE ALL SAVED BY GOD’S 

GRACE – NO CREDIT TO YOU!

It could not be right that the Gentiles come to God 

by grace and Jews come to him by the law. For Paul

there was only one reality - GRACE.

A church ceases to be Christians if it contains 
clas
s (or race) distinctions.

Three practical truths we learn from this passage are:

1. Great leaders can fall - May God help us to test every 

message we hear by His Word, and help us from

exalting ANY human leader above measure.

2. God’s grace means no second-class Christians - 

May we never distinguish in the body of Christ 

those of different social status, race, or anything else.

3. Standing for the Gospel can be lonely – Paul stood

alone here.  History shows many great Christian 

leaders stood alone.

So, we conclude this week’s lesson

on Galatians.

This coming weekend we will cover

Galatians 2:15-21 (conclude chapter 2).

Do invite people to join us at: http://www.biblefood.blogspot.com/

or on FB go to the group: “Galatians Study”

Comments welcome!