Galatians 2:11-14
Paul Opposes Peter
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Losing a spouse has been difficult for me. Eulanda, my lovely bride of 21 years, was my joy and love. We were united as one flesh as husband and wife; but secondly, we were also united as a brother and sister in Christ. Since Christians are on a spiritual journey for their Lord, called sanctification, walking together on my journey with my lovely Eulanda, has been my greatest joy. Worldly people talk about utopia, nirvana, and near-death experiences of heaven as their hope of spiritual bliss. Yet, for me on this side of eternity, my greatest joy was the togetherness I shared with Eulanda on our spiritual walk for Christ, together as man and wife. I helped her and she helped me. Now that I am traveling alone as a widower, my journey is more difficult. All marriages have disagreements; that is true. But I never took offense when Eulanda would correct or rebuke me in love. I always considered that a token of joy because it proved to me that she cared enough to correct me for my own good and for our relationship [if my wife never paid any attention to my misbehavior, I would think she did not care!]. She wanted me to be the best I can be, and I wanted her to be her best as well. Now as a widower, I do not have anyone who will give me feedback so I can discern if I’m thinking correctly or not. I want to know, as the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 2:2, “to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.” I miss my Eulanda. I miss our sweet fellowship. I missed receiving her beloved affirmations with a simple nod, smile, and kiss. I miss her “scoldings,” as I would jokingly say, to help me get on the right path that’s pleasing to God. And I did the same for my precious “Kuu’ipo,” my sweetheart, as well!
In our passage today, Galatians 2:11-14, it is important to note that Paul had three confrontations regarding the gospel message of Christ. First, as we saw in Galatians 1:6, Paul rebukes those in the church who have deserted the gospel of Christ that Paul preached. As already discussed, Paul rebuked them, but in brotherly love. Paul did not want to pluck and disregard the “weeds,” lest he also pulls up the good “wheat” that is growing up beside the “weeds:” this was Jesus’ Parable of the Wheat and Weeds/Tares in Matthew 13:24-30. Secondly, in Galatians 1:7, Paul said that there were those who wanted to make trouble and distort the truth. Throughout this wonderful letter to the churches, Paul had to defend his apostolic authority and the gospel that he preaches to these scheming and wicked ones who are causing trouble. in Philippians 3:17-21, Paul calls the trouble makers there, the enemies of the cross, which Paul preached. The last confrontation was with Peter regarding his behavior that had a great consequence to the efficacy of the gospel of Christ. Luke makes no mention of this confrontation in the Book of Acts.
As seen in Galatians 2:11-14, Paul did sternly rebuke Peter for his behavior. Peter was fine when he was in fellowship alone with the Christian Greeks in the church of Antioch. However, when a group of Jews who strongly insisted that Gentiles must first become circumcised (e.g., become a Jew first) before they can be a Christian, Peter and other Jews like Barnabus became hypocrites and withdrew themselves from fellowshipping with the Gentiles. This behavior would have given credance that salvation was not by faith in Christ, but by following a religious ceremony and becoming circumcised. This is not the gospel message that Paul received from Jesus Christ, so he took offense. Therefore, Paul in righteous indignation approached Peter to his face and called him out on this hypocrisy. Had Paul not, the gospel message of Christ would have been lost. But, praise and glory to God, that scene did not happen.
Timothy George said that Paul’s confrontation with Peter provided additional Scriptural evidence that Paul’s apostolic authority was equal to Peter’s. It was right for Paul to sternly rebuke Peter, an apostle of Christ who was not acting to what he knew was true. In Acts 10, Peter got a vision from God to go to Caesarea to visit a centurion named Cornelius. He did and gave Cornelius the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Cornelius and his family repented and believed and the Holy Spirit fell upon them. Peter was amazed and told the church that salvation has now come to the Gentiles. Nevertheless, this situation happened when Peter was in Antioch; he was indifferent to the Greek Christians. This behavior would have given the Jews leverage to cause Gentiles to become Jews instead of believing in the works and righteousness of Jesus Christ.
The text only explains Paul’s rebuke and does not present Peter’s response. Nevertheless, we can presume that both apostles worked to glorify and honor Jesus Christ and his gospel message. Therefore, even though Peter was wrong, there was no animosity between the two men who are united in love with Christ. This is similar to the unity of Eulanda and me: both of us had no hurt feelings when we disagreed and were corrected by the other. Our desire was to help each other out for God’s glory and give Him all praise. The conflict between Paul and Peter was resolved and the Christian message survived! Jesus Christ gave His Great Commission to the church in Matthew 28:18-20, ‘And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (emphasis added).”’
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My Gracious Heavenly Father, You are righteous and holy. I thank You for the gospel message that Your Son gave to the church and still exists today for us. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to You, Lord God, except he is drawn by the Holy Spirit to Christ. Oh, that I be always mindful and gracious of Your love because of the cross of Christ. Help me to defend this truth and correct others who have deserted. Give me the grace to always present the truth of Christ’s gospel to our world. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen!
Christian Hymn: Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone by Thomas Shepherd, pub.1693, v. 2 by Anonymous/Unknown, v. 3 by George N. Allen, pub.1844, v. 4-5 by Henry W. Beecher, pub.1855
