11 - But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he had clearly done wrong.
12 - Until certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he stopped doing this and separated himself because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision.
13 - And the rest of the Jews also joined with him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray with them by their hypocrisy.
14 - But when I saw that they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"
15 - We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners,
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Vs. 11 - “Cephas came to Antioch” - This visit by Peter (a.k.a. Cephas) to Antioch is not recorded in Acts or Peter’s writings. Paul and Barnabas worked in the Antioch church, and were sent out from the Antioch church, where believers were first called “Christians”. In Acts 15, some people from Judea (Jerusalem) came to Antioch teaching there was no salvation without circumcision, i.e., believers had to be Jews or salvation wouldn't work. Of course there was a big argument, which resulted in Paul & Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem to get the issue resolved with the leaders of the church - the original apostles. (Acts 15:1-3) Peter is not mentioned until the debate in Jerusalem (Acts 15:7). It is possible that Peter came to Antioch, and was confronted by Paul there. This is my best guess.
“He had clearly done wrong” - The wrong is described in the following four verses. This is a perfect example of how old habits never go away. Old habits can only be overwritten by new habits. Even after we have established the new way of doing things, the old habit will arise occasionally. In this case, Peter knew that Gentiles were fully and completely accepted into God’s kingdom - as is, on the basis of faith in Christ. Peter had a vision, went to Joppa, shared the Gospel with Cornelius (a Roman Centurion and a Gentile), and baptized him. It is hard to get more Gentile than a Roman Centurion! (See: Acts 10:1-11:48) Peter was challenged when he returned to Jerusalem, and he made a defense which resulted in the assembly declaring “Gentiles also had the repentance that leads to life”. (See: Acts 11:1-18)
Vs. 12 - “when they arrived, he stopped…” - Here’s the nut of the problem. Peter was socializing with the Gentiles until some Jewish believers showed up. Peter then turned his back on the Gentile believers, treating them as if they were unclean. His Jewish upbringing took over the new reality. Peter, who uttered the Great Confession, feared offending some Jewish friends. It is hard to imagine one of the greatest apostles was intimidated by others. On the other hand, this is the same man who denied Christ during the ‘trial’. (See: Matt. 26:69-75)
You can ask yourself, “Do the people I am with change my behavior?” That is, do you change how you behave based on the people you are with? Do you pretend to be someone you are not?
Vs. 13 - “joined with him in this hypocrisy” - The definition of hypocrisy: “The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess”. When your actions are in conflict with your words, you are living what you actually believe, not what you say you believe. This principle applies to all areas of our lives, not just major doctrinal issues.
Vs. 14 - “the truth of the gospel” - All people, whether Gentile or Jew, can be saved by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Paul says is so clearly, “a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” (Col. 3:11).
“although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile” - Here Paul spells out the hypocrisy. Peter was wavering. (See: James 1:6-8 “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”) Peter was not committing to one direction. Again, in some ways I have sympathy for Peter. His life had gone through a cataclysmic change. Our lives changed in the same way when Jesus came to live in our souls. We too may struggle with our new identity as children of the living God.
“force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” - Good question. This emphasizes the point - Peter was saved, but not because he was a Jew. We, the Gentiles are saved in spite of not being Jews. We all are saved by God’s mercy and grace. This brings to mind a children’s gospel song:
Is a wonderful place. Filled with. Glory and grace. I wanta be there. |
Vs. 15 - “We are Jews” - Before you get the wrong idea, Paul was extremely proud to be Jewish. That pride is shown in this sentence. He was a Jew. Being Jewish had tremendous advantages. (See: Rom. 3:1-2) One huge advantage is Jews know of God the Father, and the tremendous things He has done for them. Gentiles do not have this history to draw upon. In a similar way citizens of the United States of America have a tremendous advantage over peoples from other nations. We know why our nation was founded - Freedom from tyranny! We know battles and wars have been fought to keep us free - men and women have died to preserve that freedom. People who come to the U.S., who do not have that legacy of freedom have to learn it. They yearn for it, but have not experienced it.
The Jews had thousands of years of history to remind them what God can and would do for ‘His People’. Gentiles do not. However, Paul exhibits some of the same old habits like Peter with respect to Jewish attitudes towards Gentiles. “We are Jews!” “They are sinners.”
Paul may also be being sarcastic here. The Jews were so proud of their position as “God’s favorite (chosen) people”. He knows that it doesn’t matter if you are Jewish or not. You are a sinner and in desperate need of salvation by grace. Paul works through that prejudice and shares the gospel with everyone, for all need to be saved.
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