The apostle's preaching was approved of by the other apostles. The
Gentiles were not to be constrained to the observance of the law.
2:1. Then, after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem with
Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.
2:2. And I went up according to revelation and communicated to them the
gospel which I preach among the Gentiles: but apart to them who seemed
to be some thing: lest perhaps I should run or had run in vain.
2:3. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Gentile, was compelled
to be circumcised.
2:4. But because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in
privately to spy our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they
might bring us into servitude.
2:5. To whom we yielded not by subjection: no, not for an hour: that
the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
2:6. But of them who seemed to be some thing, (what they were some time
it is nothing to me, God accepteth not the person of man): for to me
they that seemed to be some thing added nothing.
2:7. But contrariwise, when they had seen that to me was committed the
gospel of the uncircumcision, as to Peter was that of the circumcision.
The gospel of the uncircumcision. . .The preaching of the gospel to the
uncircumcised, that is, to the Gentiles. St. Paul was called in an
extraordinary manner to be the apostle of the Gentiles; St. Peter,
besides his general commission over the whole flock, (John 21. 15,
etc.,) had a peculiar charge of the people of the circumcision, that
is, of the Jews.
2:8. (For he who wrought in Peter to the apostleship of the
circumcision wrought in me also among the Gentiles.)
2:9. And when they had known the grace that was given to me, James and
Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the
right hands of fellowship: that we should go unto the Gentiles, and
they unto the circumcision:
2:10. Only that we should be mindful of the poor: which same thing also
I was careful to do.
2:11. But when Cephas was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face,
because he was to be blamed.
I withstood, etc. . .The fault that is here noted in the conduct of St.
Peter, was only a certain imprudence, in withdrawing himself from the
table of the Gentiles, for fear of giving offence to the Jewish
converts; but this, in such circumstances, when his so doing might be
of ill consequence to the Gentiles, who might be induced thereby to
think themselves obliged to conform to the Jewish way of living, to the
prejudice of their Christian liberty. Neither was St. Paul's
reprehending him any argument against his supremacy; for in such cases
an inferior may, and sometimes ought, with respect, to admonish his
superior.
2:12. For before that some came from James, he did eat with the
Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself,
fearing them who were of the circumcision.
2:13. And to his dissimulation the rest of the Jews consented: so that
Barnabas also was led by them into that dissimulation.
2:14. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly unto the truth of
the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all: If thou, being a Jew,
livest after the manner of the Gentiles and not as the Jews do, how
dost thou compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
2:15. We by nature are Jews: and not of the Gentiles, sinners.
2:16. But knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law,
but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we also believe in Christ Jesus, that
we may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the
law: because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
2:17. But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves
also are found sinners, is Christ then the minister of sin? God forbid!
2:18. For if I build up again the things which I have destroyed, I make
myself a prevaricator.
2:19. For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I may live to
God; with Christ I am nailed to the cross.
2:20. And I live, now not I: but Christ liveth in me. And that I live
now in the flesh: I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me
and delivered himself for me.
2:21. I cast not away the grace of God. For if justice be by the law,
then Christ died in vain.