Galatians 2:11-14 – Seek to be congruent in living

The scene had now shifted from Jerusalem to Antioch. This was the place where the disciples of Christ were first referred to as Christians (Acts 11:26). Here we are given a glimpse into a conflict between two spiritual leaders – the apostles Paul and Peter. The issue had nothing to do with Peter’s teachings but his conduct. This teaches us to be careful regardless of our spiritual stature. Though Peter was a spiritual leader, he did not act rightly. He acted in hypocrisy. Prior to the coming of a delegate from James the leader at Jerusalem, he shared meals and fellowshipped with the Gentiles. When the delegate came, he withdrew from the Gentiles. Acts 15:5 tells us that among the delegate were some members from the sect of the Pharisees who believed in the necessity of circumcision and observation of the Law of Moses. We also know from Acts 15:24 that those Pharisees did not have the right to do what they did, although they claimed to have James’ authority. 

However, when the delegate came, Peter acted insincerely by withdrawing and keeping away from the Gentiles. He succumbed to the pressure of this group and acted out of the fear of men. By that he had given the impression that he agreed with these Pharisees and their position; that he could not fellowship with the Gentiles because they were not circumcised.

Paul had been defending his message that salvation came only through faith in Christ Jesus. He objected to the distorted teaching of faith in Christ plus circumcision and observing the moral and ceremonial laws. When Peter acted the way he did, Paul saw a loophole. By his insincerity, Peter had unwittingly undermined the truth of the Gospel. His hypocrisy had also influenced others around him. Even Barnabas, who was Paul’s close missionary partner, was carried away by it. In not mixing with the Gentiles, Peter unknowingly was endorsing that the Gentiles must undergo circumcision as a condition for fellowship. Paul then confronted Peter in the presence of everyone. His open confrontation with Peter also gave him the opportunity to align the truth with all concerned and re-enforced it. In chiding Peter, in verse 14, Paul asked him how he could expect the Gentiles to practice Jewish customs when he, a Jew, had already stopped practicing them himself. Paul was implying that since Peter’s conversion, he had not been practicing the Jewish food regulation and, in a sense, he had lived just like the Gentiles. How, then, could he now expect the Gentiles to live like the Jews and practice all their customs relating to food?

Though the epistle to the Galatians did not give us the outcome of this conflict, we deduced, from Acts 15, that it was this incident that precipitated the Jerusalem Council. And at that council, it was decided that circumcision was not mandatory for the Gentile believers. Here Paul’s action teaches us two things. Firstly, the truth must never be compromised. Secondly, any wrong idea about the truth must be corrected and not tolerated.

We need to be careful and congruent in our living. Even a spiritual giant, like Peter, was susceptible to wrong decisions and actions. It behooves us therefore to be careful how we walk, seeking always to understand what the will of the Lord is, and be consistent to the teaching of His Word.