11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he [j]stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he began to shrink back and separate himself, fearing [k]the party of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not [l]straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before everyone, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?[m]
15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless [n]knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of [o]the Law no [p]flesh will be justified. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through [q]the Law I died to [r]the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through [s]the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
Verse by verse commentary
Verse 1: “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.”
This could refer to an additional 14 years after the three years mentioned in Galatians 1: 18. The 14 years could also begin from Paul’s Damascus Road conversion and include those three. The latter seems slightly more probable, placing this visit around A.D. 47. It should be observed that God was in no hurry to get His apostle to the Gentile nation allowing sufficient time to be prepared for the most important work for the Gospel. Let us never doubt God when has prepared more before being sent.
Verse 2: “And I went up because of a revelation, and I laid out to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, lest somehow I might be running, or had run, in vain.”
The reason for this second trip was because of a revelation; that is, by prompting him. God knew the necessity for this visit with the apostles. In Jerusalem, Paul “laid out” his gospel to the apostles. The Greek word translated “laid out” means “to refer something to another party for his opinion of it.” So Paul privately sought the judgment of them which were of reputation (the Jerusalem apostles) regarding the gospel he had been proclaiming for 14 years. Paul was not seeking the Jerusalem apostles permission or confirmation of his Gospel message, but rather, to obtain their approval of the way he was bringing Gentiles into the church: they were admitted without obeying the law of circumcision. Without the apostles’ consent, Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles would be hindered; he would run . . . in vain.
Verse 3: “But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.”
At the center of the Judaizers’ work based righteousness system was the Mosaic requirement of circumcision to be saved. They were teaching that there could be no salvation without circumcision. Paul and the apostles opposed that belief, and it was settled at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1–22). As a true believer, Titus was living proof that circumcision was not necessary for salvation. The apostles’ refusal to require Titus’ circumcision confirmed the church’s rejection of the Judaizers’ legalistic doctrines. We must be on guard today not to allow modern day Judaizers to bring any type of work based righteousness to our churches.
Verse 4: “But this was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.”
The Judaizers pretended to be true Christians, but they were pretenders. What made their doctrine false was because it demanded circumcision and obedience to the Mosaic law as required for salvation, as opposed to faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone, to the glory of God alone. This Greek word translated “spy out” pictures spies or traitors entering by deception into an enemy’s camp. These Judaizers were Satan’s undercover agents sent into the midst of the church to sabotage the true gospel. Christians have liberty, but that liberty is the freedom to love God and to be in a relationship with Him that was paid for by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our freedom is found in the desire we now have, having received a new heart, to love and obey the Holy Trinity. This freedom is not, however, a license or excuse to sin. Remember that not all pastors are God’s appointed representatives, as Satan has his imposters. Candidly, I believe there are more fake pastors than God-called men to proclaim the gospel.
Verse 5: “But we did not yield in subjection to them for even a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.”
Paul stood his ground. The false brethren said, “This man Titus has not even been circumcised! They believed that Titus was not saved because he had not been circumcised. They wanted to add a “Plus 1” to salvation requirements. There is such a danger when you “Plus 1.” Some add baptism, speaking in tongues, or church membership to be saved. Think about the thief on the cross with the Lord Jesus Christ said, "Today, you will be in paradise.” Paul made a definite stand for gospel truth and right doctrine. We can do no less today.
Verse 6: “But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.”
Just as the physical mark of circumcision did not define the boundary of God’s people, so worldly prestige, reputation, fame or money is not important to God. Paul makes the point that those “of reputation,” which is a reference to Peter, James, and John, were not apostolically superior to his ministry. Paul never saw himself as apostolically inferior. Know this, you may not have a spiritual pedigree, or degrees with letters behind your name, but if you are a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, you are inferior to no person.
Verse 7: “But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.”
Know for a certainty, there is only one gospel, not two. There is a heretical view held by at least one famous television preacher that states the bJews have a different gospel to make heaven and the Gentiles another. Peter took the message of salvation through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Jews. Paul took the same message to the Gentiles. They labored in different fields, but used the same tools. We must know what “hills to die on.” This phrase refers to those beliefs that must be agreed to or a break in fellowship will occur. Mode of baptism, not a hill. What day to worship, not a hill. Getting saved by saying a printed prayer, making a decision for Jesus, or “accepting” Him, this is a hill to die on. False gospels abound with fake conversions. They serve as a vaccination to the truth. People get a little taste, try it, and then discard their “faith” because it didn’t work. This is exactly what is written in Hebrews 6: 4.
Verse 8: “(for He who worked in Peter unto his apostleship to the circumcised worked in me also unto the Gentiles),”
The Holy Spirit, Who has but one gospel, empowered both Peter and Paul in their ministries. There is no salvation without Holy Spirit conviction. Both men preached repentance and faith. Jews and Gentiles get saved in the same way, by faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. A lost soul needs a substitute to pay for his sins. There is only one substitute that will be accepted in Heaven and that is Christ.
Verse 9: “and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”
This particular James was Jesus’ half-brother, who had risen to an important role in the Jerusalem church. Cephas (aka “Peter”) and John (the brother of James the apostle), were two of Christ’s closest companions and became the main apostles in the Jerusalem church. These leaders believed in the work that Paul was doing to take the gospel to the Gentiles. They even extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas. In the Near East, this represented a solemn vow of friendship and a mark of partnership. This act signified the apostles’ approval of Paul’s ministry.
Verse 10: “Only they asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.”
This probably refers mainly to poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Paul led an effort to help them financially and would later bring an offering from Antioch. There was a famine in Judea and the offering from the church in Antioch showed Gentile love to the Jewish believers. The church at Antioch was considered the first Gentile church. People were first called Christians at Antioch. And this was something that Paul wanted to do. God loves a cheerful giver and we should always be looking for opportunities to help the poor.
Verse 11: “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.”
Antioch was the capital of the Roman province of Syria and the largest city of that province. Antioch was home to a large Jewish community and, not surprisingly, was the first place mentioned in Acts where Jewish Christians preached the gospel to Gentiles. It was the first church to send missionaries to preach the gospel specifically to Gentiles. Paul opposed Peter to his face. What was Peter’s sin that caused Paul’s reaction? Peter was guilty of sin by aligning himself with men he knew to be in error and because of the harm and confusion he caused his Gentile brethren. Peter knew the truth but I believe he was trying to walk with a foot in the Jewish world and one foot in the Gentile world. Let me repeat, there is only one gospel and that gospel is the same for the Jew and the Gentile.
Verse 12: “For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he began to shrink back and separate himself, fearing the party of the circumcision.”
It was clear that many Jewish Christians resisted God’s bringing the Gentiles into the church without them becoming Jews.The legalistic Judiazers wanted all believers to be circumcised before being accepted into fellowship. Both Peter and Barnabas succumbed to this pressure from a group that believed that to be saved, you had to be physically circumcised. This is an example of what “man-fear” can do to you. I have seen this occur in denominations, especially ultra conservative groups with strict dress codes like women can’t wear pants, can’t cut their hair. No movies or television. Now don’t misunderstand me, Christians should dress modestly and appropriately. There are certain things that should not be received into the eye gates or ear gates. The Holy Spirit is well able to convict of sin and lead the believer in paths of righteousness. We should never be afraid to stand up to false teachings.
Verse 13: “And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.”
Peter’s influence by his hypocrisy was weighty. He influenced other Jewish Christians to separate themselves from their Gentile brothers and sisters. Even the spiritually mature Barnabas, who had championed Gentile freedom, was carried away with their hypocrisy. The hypocrisy here was the false impression left by their behavior that went against what God had already approved, i.e. the inclusion of the Gentiles into the body of Christ. Man-fear is very real. Oppose it at every opportunity. Stand up to man-fear, or man-fear will cause you to be a hypocrite.
Verse 14: “But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before everyone, ‘If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?’”
Before the arrival of the “circumcision” group Peter had eaten freely with Gentiles (v. 12). Now, hypocritically, he was acting as if Gentiles must become Jews in order to become full members of God’s body. By withdrawing from the Gentile Christians, Peter and the other Jewish believers were not walking in line with God’s Word. In essence, they were making themselves a little “god” and believing they knew better than our LORD, were going to make a “Plus 1” for the Gentiles to be saved. A “Plus 1” is when you add anything to the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ. Whatever the “Plus 1” is, it will become the dominant message over time and Christ's sacrifice reduced in value. I have seen this many times over the years. The Plus 1 can be baptism, dress standards, the day of the week you worship, church membership and more. Never commit the sin of “Plus 1.”
Verse 15: “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;”
The Jews in those days believed that Gentiles were sinners. In fact, the words Gentile and sinner were synonymous terms. Therefore, the rebuke that Paul gave shows the folly of lawkeeping—how really foolish it is. There was a belief among the Jews that Father Abraham stood at the gates of Sheol and he would not let a righteous Jew enter into torment. They believed the fact that they were Jewish by blood was enough to save them. Paul knew this was not true, therefore the rebuke by Paul.
Verse 16: “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
In this verse, three times Paul declares that salvation is only one way and that way is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not by obedience to the law. The first is general, “a man is not justified”; the second is personal, “we might be justified”; and the third is universal, “no flesh shall be justified.” This basic forensic Greek word for “justified” describes a judge declaring an accused person not guilty and therefore innocent before the law. Throughout Scripture it refers to God declaring a sinner not guilty and fully righteous before Him by imputing to him the divine righteousness of Christ and imputing the man’s sin to his sinless Savior for punishment. This is called imputed righteousness. When the Father looks at the saved person, He sees Christ’s perfect righteousness and when the Father looks at Christ, He sees our sins. Obedience to the law will not save you. The law is a totally unacceptable means of salvation because the root of sinfulness is in the fallenness of man’s heart, not his actions.
Verse 17: “But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!”
The Jew had to forsake the Law as a means of salvation in order to be justified by Christ and therefore have Christ take his place as a sinner. The question is then asked, “Is Christ the One who makes him a sinner?” Paul’s strong answer is, “May it never be!” The Jew, like the Gentile, was a sinner by nature. He could not be justified by the Law, and exclusive salvation was found in Christ. That salvation had both negative and positive components. In the negative, our sins were removed from us and that is subtraction. On the positive, the believer received an addition, that is the righteousness of Christ.
Verse 18: “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.”
To paraphrase, Paul is saying, “If I go back under law, I make myself a transgressor.” Paul understood that while the law does have value (in bringing you to Christ by establishing you as a sinner), it does not save you. The law points you to the need of a sin substitute, but is not a substitute itself. The law reveals our spiritual needs. Christ provides the answers.
Verse 19: “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.”
When a person is convicted of capital murder and executed by lethal injection, the law has no further claim on him. Justice has been satisfied. It is the same with the Christian who has died in Christ (for Christ has paid the penalty for his sins in full and justice has been satisfied) and is born again to new life in Him. Justice has been satisfied and he is forever free from any further penalty.
Verse 20: “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
This is one of my favorite verses in the New Testament. I want you to read this verse in the Amplified Version (adds words to amplify or explain the words true meaning): “ I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” The Greek verb translated “I have been crucified” is in the perfect tense. This means that the action has been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated. It is in the passive voice which means that the subject (Paul) was the recipient of the action. The mood is indicative which means it is a simple statement of fact. Paul’s crucifixion took place when he was converted and not as a second experience. Some will use this verse to require a subsequent act following conversion to make one completely surrendered. No, that takes place at conversion. This verse describes the life Paul now lived as a Christian. Our present lives will be lives of faith; faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 21: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
Paul was making his stand against the Judaizers and thus taking a stand for Christ. Those who insist they can earn salvation by their own efforts undermine the foundation of Christianity and render unnecessary the death of Christ. Thus, to believe so, would make Christ’s death unnecessary. No one is saved by work. Romans 9: 16 puts an end to work based salvation: “So then it does not depend on the one who wills or the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Paul’s gospel message was the grace of God that saves sinners through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is available to all who will believe.
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