“…and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised”
and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars,
A “pillar” was […]
Archive for January, 2000
“They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do”
They desired only that we should remember the poor,
The apostles agreed with Paul’s gospel of grace to the Gentiles at the Jerusalem Council but they had one request that he should “remember the poor.” They did not […]
“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed…”
With this verse, the location changes from Jerusalem to Antioch of Syria. Paul continues in this section to prove the validity and independence of his apostleship by tellinghow he rebuked Peter in Antioch. Paul’s message of grace […]
“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed…”
because he was to be blamed
Literally, “was to be blamed” is to know something against someone, to condemn him. When Peter first arrived in Antioch, he partook of meals without regard to Mosaic food regulations. When representatives […]
“…for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision”
for before certain men came from James,
This phase does not necessarily imply that these “certain men” came with James’ blessing. James declared himself clearly on the […]
“…for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision”
and separated himself,
The word “separated” means to mark off by boundaries or limits. “Separated” comes from two words: to separate and from. Peter excluded himself from […]
“And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy”
And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him,
The “rest of the Jews” are Jewish believers. When Peter went astray, other Jewish believers went with him.The English words “played the […]
“And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy”
so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy
The hypocrisy of Peter and his friends lead Barnabas away from the truth. “Hypocrisy” is to act behind a mask. A stage player pretends to […]
“But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?”
But when I saw
When Paul realized that Peter […]
“We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles…”
The remainder of the chapter expands the idea of Peter’s inconsistency in reverting to legalism (2:15-21).
We who are Jews by nature,
Paul includes himself in the word “we.” Paul uses “we” four times in verses 15-17. Paul and Peter were born Jews. That is […]