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* [2:7–9] Some think that actual “minutes” of the meeting are here quoted. Paul’s apostleship to the Gentiles (Gal 1:16) is recognized alongside that of Peter to the Jews. Moreover, the right to proclaim the gospel without requiring circumcision and the Jewish law is sealed by a handshake. That Paul and colleagues should go to the Gentiles did not exclude his preaching to the Jews as well (Rom 1:13–16) or Cephas to Gentile areas.
* [2:9] James and Cephas and John: see notes on Gal 1:18, 19; on Peter and John as leaders in the Jerusalem church, cf. Acts 3:1 and Acts 8:14. The order here, with James rst, may re ect his prominence in Jerusalem after Peter (Cephas) departed (Acts 12:17).
* [2:10] The poor: Jerusalem Christians or a group within the church there (cf. Rom 15:26). The collection for them was extremely important in Paul’s thought and labor (cf. Rom 15:25–28; 1 Cor 16:1–4; 2 Cor 8–9).
* [2:11–14] The decision reached in Jerusalem (Gal 2:3–7) recognized the freedom of Gentile Christians from the Jewish law. But the problem of table fellowship between Jewish Christians, who possibly still kept kosher food regulations, and Gentile believers was not yet settled. When Cephas rst came to the racially mixed community of Jewish and Gentile Christians in Antioch (Gal 2:12), he ate with non-Jews. Pressure from persons arriving later from Jerusalem caused him and Barnabas to draw back. Paul therefore publicly rebuked Peter’s inconsistency toward the gospel (Gal 2:14). Some think that what Paul said on that occasion extends through Gal 2:16, 21.
* [2:11] Clearly was wrong: literally, “stood condemned,” by himself and also by Paul. His action in breaking table fellowship was especially grievous if the eating involved the meal at the Lord’s supper (cf. 1 Cor 11:17–25).
* [2:12] Some people came from James: strict Jewish Christians (cf. Acts 15:1, 5; 21:20–21), either sent by James (Gal 1:19; 2:9) or claiming to be from the leader of the Jerusalem church. The circumcised: presumably Jewish Christians, not Jews.
* [2:13] The Jews: Jewish Christians, like Barnabas. Hypocrisy: literally, “pretense,” “play- acting”; moral insincerity.
* [2:14] Compel the Gentiles to live like Jews: that is, conform to Jewish practices, such as circumcision (Gal 2:3–5) or regulations about food (Gal 2:12).
GALATIANS 
me add nothing.f 7* On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter to the circumcised,g 8for the one who worked in Peter for an apostolate to the circumcised worked also in me for the Gentiles, 9and when they recognized the grace bestowed upon me, James and Cephas and John,* who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.h 10Only, we were to be mindful of the poor,* which is the very thing I was eager to do.i
Peter’s Inconsistency at Antioch.* 11j And when Cephas came
to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he clearly was *12 *
wrong.
eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to draw back and separated himself, because
he was afraid of the circumcised.k
13And the rest of the Jews* [also]
acted hypocritically along with him,
with the result that even Barnabas
was carried away by their hypocrisy.l
14But when I saw that they were not
on the right road in line with the
truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas
in front of all,m “If you, though a Jew,
are living like a Gentile and not like
a Jew, how can you compel the
Gentiles to live like Jews?”*
Faith and Works.* 15We, who are Jews
by nature and not sinners from
For, until some people came from James, he used to
2:15
Paul summarizes a key teaching which he explores at greater length in the letter to the Romans: those who are in Christ are justi ed—that is, they are acceptable in God’s sight—not through works, but through faith in Christ. Our works matter, of course—that is a point Paul makes again and again. The point here is that we cannot earn God’s favor through observance of the Law, only through faith in Christ.
Peter and Paul, anonymous fresco, 15th century
f. [2:6] Dt 10:17; Rom 2:11.
g. [2:7] 1:15–16; Acts 9:15; 15:12; 22:21; Rom 1:5.
h. [2:9] Rom 15:15 / Gal 1:18–19; Jn 1:42;
Acts 12:17 / Gal 2:1.
i. [2:10] Acts 11:29–30; Rom 15:25–28;
1 Cor 16:1–4; 2 Cor 8:9.
j. [2:11] 1:18 / Acts 11:19–30; 15:1–2.
k. [2:12] Acts 10:15, 28; 11:3.
l. [2:13] 2:1, 9.
m. [2:14] 2:5 / 1:18; 2:9 / 2:3.
n. [2:16] 3:2, 11; Ps 143:1–2; Rom 3:20, 28; 4:5;
11:6; Eph 2:8–9; Phil 3:9.
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