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| Chapter 2 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ Then fourteen years later 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 those who were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither was Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, compelled to be circumcised; 4 and that because false brethren were brought in by stealth, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage. 5 To them we gave place by submission not even for an hour, that the truth of the Gospel might continue with you. 6 But of those who seemed to be something (whosoever they were, it maketh no difference to me: God accepteth no man’s person) --those who seemed to be somewhat in consultation added nothing to me; 7 but contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel to the Uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the Gospel to the Circumcision was unto Peter 8 (for He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the Circumcision, that 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 as I also was eager to do. 11 ¶ But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before certain ones came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they had come, he withdrew and separated himself from them, fearing those who were of the Circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him, so much that Barnabas also was carried away by 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 Christ therefore 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." |
Paul and Barnabas were very excited when they returned from their first missionary journey, God had opened the doors of salvation to the Gentiles and they travelled to Jerusalem to tell the church of the wonderful grace of God to the Gentiles. Acts 14:27 This had upset the Jewish legalists who would not accept salvation was by Christ alone, they demanded that circumcision, a Jewish instruction from Abraham’s time Gen 17:7-14 must also apply to the Gentiles and thus accept the whole of the Jewish law as part of salvation. Unfortunately the Jew had lost the real spiritual meaning of circumcision, it had become a ritual.. Deuteronomy 10:16; Rom 2:25-29. A True believer has a spiritual circumcision Col 2:10,11. Luke records the account of the meeting of Paul and the Council of Jerusalem Acts 15:1-21. Paul did not go because the church had instructed him, he went by "revelation," - the Lord sent him. v2 Paul meets with the leadership, first to ensure any problems are sorted out, that they supported his work. v6b They added "nothing to the ministry" of Paul. v3-5 Following this initial meeting the full council meet, various people including Peter spoke who reminded them that God had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentile as He had done to the Jews, we were "one in Christ" Gal 3:28. It appears that Titus, a Gentile Christian, was a "test case." He had never been circumcised yet the church could see that he was saved, giving evidence of the Holy Spirits presence in his life. This shows the error in the Judaizers claim Acts 15:1 "Unless you are circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved." was a false statement. The Judaizers wanted to put believers back under the control of the Law, Christ plus obeying the Ten Commandments. Christ had offered freedom through His death, the Holy Spirit now supplies the power to worship and obey the instructions of God, in love we obey. v6-10 The Judaizers had hoped that the Jerusalem Church would support them but this did not happen, instead the ministry of Paul was given encouragement, adding nothing to the message. However, the church had realized that, though one in Christ, the ministry to the Jews was different to the Gentiles and that God had given the two ministries to different men. This does not mean that Paul did not try to bring salvation to any Jew, Rom 9:1-3 tells he had a great love for his people and would always make first contact in a new town via a synagogue. Neither would Peter avoid the Gentiles if the Lord opened a door to them. v10 The meeting encouraged the practice of helping the poor. So often does a church concentrate upon doctrine but forgets helping others. Unfortunately the Judaizers did not give up and continued to interfere with the spread of the Gospel to the Gentile. v11 Paul has to have challenged Peter over his behaviour, it appears that Peter was showing differences in behaviour when he was with Gentile or Jewish believers, it was done in such away that he appeared to be denying the Grace of God for Gentiles when with Jewish believers. Gal 3:26-28; Eph 2:8. Peter had been glad to eat with Gentiles, Acts 10:28 but with the arrival of a group from James, the head of the Jerusalem Church, seemed to awake a fear in Peter for he separated himself from the Gentiles. This behaviour affected other Jewish believers v13. Peter’s behaviour was not according to the Gospels teaching. v14 Peter was a Jew and did not therefore have to live as a Gentile but he had been doing so, eating with the Gentiles until these men arrived. By his action he was telling the Gentiles they must live as Jews because their behaviour was wrong, they must take on the dietary laws and perhaps accepting the demands of the Law like circumcision. If this had continued there might have been the formation of a Jewish church and a Gentile church, this would cause the breakup of the unity in Christ. There is no record if Peter ever replied in writing, but scripture shows that he admitted he was wrong. His two letters, 1 & 2 Peter, show the grace of God for salvation to all. In 2 Peter 3:15-16 Peter emphasis the complete agreement between Paul and himself. We should also examine our own behaviour. "Am I trying to mix law and grace in my Christian life?" Salvation is by faith in Christ alone, nothing added to it. Rom 5:1; I must walk in grace Eph 2:10. This event must also remind us that we, as believers, must examine the teaching of our church, to ensure it is not teaching "that salvation is Christ plus." v16-21 Paul said that the Gentiles had been offered salvation in Christ alone, by now adding to this they were lowering the power of the Blood of Christ. The Law had helped Paul in understanding his standing with God but there was no way it could make him right with God, only the death of Christ could do that. The result of this new life made by God was that Paul, and each who are believers, are crucified with Christ. The original text indicates that this action applies both to the passed and to a continuing action. The death of Christ brought us life, not the same life in the natural man, but a new life, a life with Christ living in the life of the believer. This new life does not hide the human personality, "the life which I now live in the flesh," v20 is lived in faith of Jesus, who died for me. To not trust Jesus completely in this way frustrate or prevent the grace of God. If the Law could make a person right with God, then the death of Christ would not be necessary and a waste. |
Easy English Translation
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