Galatians 2:1-21

 ¹Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

² And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Paul was careful with how he dealt with leadership in Jerusalem by making sure he spoke with them in private about the gospel he preached to the Gentiles first, before going public, so as not to create a problem by surprising the leadership. Basically, Paul wanted them to hear it from him and wanted the chance to lay it out before them in private where they could discuss and pray about everything.

³ But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

Titus became a Christian without circumcision. Paul took Titus with him to present to the leadership as proof of that you can be a Christian as a Gentile…. without becoming a Jew. The legalist simply needed to convince the Titus to be circumcised in order to win their argument with the council, but Titus would not agree to be circumcised.

⁴ And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Fake Christians came in to try to convince them to become Jews (circumcised). This would have brought them into bondage to do the Law. In Jesus, we are free and walk by grace through faith… not of works. (Ephesians 2:8-9 ⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.)

⁵ To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

⁶ But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

⁷ But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

⁸ (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

⁹ And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

¹⁰ Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same, which I also, was forward to do.

Paul’s ministry was to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles and see them converted to Christianity. The Law was given looking forward to the day when Jesus would come here to die for the sins of mankind and remove the need to follow the Law by replacing it with Grace through faith in the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from sin and bring us into fellowship with God. This council wanted to add converting to the Law of Circumcision to being saved by grace. This is heresy and Paul resisted the Council presenting the argument. Paul stood firm that Jesus saves us by grace, through faith, and not by works or by keeping the law.

¹¹ But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

¹² For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

¹³ And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

¹⁴ But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

¹⁵ We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

¹⁶ Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

¹⁷ But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

¹⁸ For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

¹⁹ For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

²¹ I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Peter was eating with the Gentiles and living his life enjoying salvation by grace through faith in Jesus…. free from having to keep the Jewish Law. When he heard that certain Jews were headed to this town, Peter withdrew and stopped living the liberties he has in Jesus because he didn’t want conflict with the Jewish people visiting. As a result of Peter withdrawing, several others also withdrew and so, Peter led many into this sin. Paul confronted Peter and reminded him that he was no longer under the Law, but under Grace and that he should always walk in this liberty.