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SEPTEMBER 24
Galatians 2:1–21 the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas
was carried away with their hypocrisy.
Then after fourteen years I went up again 14
2 to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took But when I saw that they were not
Titus with me. And I went up by revelation, straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I
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and communicated to them that gospel which said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a
I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as
those who were of reputation, lest by any the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as
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means I might run, or had run, in vain. Yet not Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sin-
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even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, ners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not
was compelled to be circumcised. And this justified by the works of the law but by faith in
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occurred because of false brethren secretly Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ
brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in
our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that Christ and not by the works of the law; for by
they might bring us into bondage), to whom the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
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we did not yield submission even for an hour, “But if, while we seek to be justified by
that the truth of the gospel might continue Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is
with you. Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly
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But from those who seemed to be some- 19
6 not! For if I build again those things which I
thing—whatever they were, it makes no differ- destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For
ence to me; God shows personal favoritism to I through the law died to the law that I might
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no man—for those who seemed to be some- live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;
thing added nothing to me. But on the con- it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in
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trary, when they saw that the gospel for the me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I
uncircumcised had been committed to me, as live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
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the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside
(for He who worked effectively in Peter for
8 the grace of God; for if righteousness comes
the apostleship to the circumcised also through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),
and when James, Cephas, and John, who
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seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that
had been given to me, they gave me and 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. When
Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we a person trusts in Christ for salvation, he spiri-
should go to the Gentiles and they to the cir- tually participates with the Lord in His crucifix-
cumcised. They desired only that we should ion and His victory over sin and death. no
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remember the poor, the very thing which I longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The
believer’s old self is dead, having been cruci-
also was eager to do.
Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I man has the privilege of the indwelling Christ
11 fied with Christ (Rom.6:3,5).The believer’s new
withstood him to his face, because he was to empowering him and living through him
be blamed; for before certain men came from (Rom. 8:9,10). gave Himself for me. The man-
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James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but ifestation of Christ’s love for the believer
when they came, he withdrew and separated through His sacrificial death on the cross
himself, fearing those who were of the circum- (John 10:17,18; Rom. 5:6–8; Eph. 5:25–30).
cision. And the rest of the Jews also played
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DAY 24:What led Paul to confront Peter with his hypocrisy?
It took place in the first Gentile church, which was at Antioch, where we are told that Peter
“stood condemned”(Gal.2:11).Peter had been in Antioch for some time,eating with Gentiles.When
Judaizers came,pretending to be sent by James (v.12),they lied,giving false claims of support from
the apostles.Peter had already given up all Mosaic ceremony (Acts 10:9–22);nevertheless,he “with-
drew.”The Greek term refers to strategic military withdrawal.The verb’s form may imply that Peter’s
withdrawal was gradual and deceptive.To eat with the Judaizers and decline invitations to eat with
the Gentiles,which he had previously done,meant that Peter was affirming the very dietary restric-
tions he knew God had abolished (Acts 10:15) and thus striking a blow at the gospel of grace.
“Fearing those…of the circumcision”—the true motivation behind Peter’s defection. He was afraid
of losing popularity with the legalistic, Judaizing segment of people in the church, even though
they were self-righteous hypocrites promoting a heretical doctrine.
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