Galatians 2:13, commentary and pictures

At Antioch Peter withdrew from table fellowship with Gentile converts, and the other Jewish believers followed his example until even Barnabas was carried away with the same pretense. Their conduct was hypocritical double-dealing that evaded integrity and the principles of the gospel, driven by fear of others and desire for esteem and by prejudice in favor of Jewish customs. It contradicted the welcome already given to the Gentiles without requiring the ceremonial law, and threatened the unity of the church with division and a subverting influence on minds and hearts. Paul therefore withstood Peter face to face and opposed him directly because he was acting in this way. The fall proves that even the best of men left to themselves will make grave blunders, leaving Peter with no ground for boasting and standing as a solemn warning that men in high places must keep close to principle and depend daily on the grace of Christ.

Peter's Withdrawal at Antioch

At Antioch Peter withdrew from table fellowship with Gentile converts, and the other Jewish believers followed his example into the same dissimulation, insomuch that even Barnabas was carried away with it. The spread of Peter's dissembling to other Jewish Christians, drawing in even Barnabas, showed a wavering departure from fellowship with Gentile believers.

The failure was striking after Peter's fall and restoration, his long course of service, his intimate acquaintance with Christ and knowledge of Christ's pure, straightforward practice of principle, and after all the instruction, gifts, knowledge, and great influence he had in preaching and teaching the Word. Peter was one of the pillars of the church and Paul's companion and fellow worker in labor, and Barnabas was the one who had first honored Paul with the right hand of fellowship when all the other Christians were afraid of him as a former persecutor of the church and questioned and doubted his fitness for the work. Their conduct was hypocritical, inconsistent double-dealing and pretense, evading integrity and the principles of the gospel, wavering and two-sided in position.

It was driven by fear of men and of people, and by desire for esteem, reflecting prejudice in favor of Jewish customs. It contradicted the welcome Peter had already shown to the Gentiles and the council decision to accept Gentile converts without requiring them to keep the ceremonial law and without binding unnecessary burdens upon them. It painfully threatened the unity of the church with division and left a painful impression on the Gentile believers, exercising a subverting influence that perverted minds and hearts.

Paul therefore withstood Peter face to face and opposed him directly because he was acting in this way, taking his stand against Peter and Barnabas when even they were drawn into error. Peter afterward recognized his mistake and tried to repair it. In connection with the dispute over Gentile converts, Peter did not act as authoritative head over the church but stood on equality with his fellow apostles.

Warnings and Doctrinal Lessons

Paul held fast to the inspired truth taught him by God that God's gifts come straight from God to all who seek Him with a whole heart, whether circumcised or uncircumcised, Barbarian, Scythian, bond or free, and therefore no unnecessary burdens must be bound upon Gentile Christians. Though opposed by apostles who ought to have upheld him, withstood by his brethren, and accused of advocating theories contrary to the fundamental principles they had been taught, he firmly held his ground. He stood dedicated with all his powers and talents to God, taught by God the truths of the gospel able to make men wise unto salvation.

Peter's weakness in being carried away shows he had no grounds for boasting, for he was a fallible human being, not someone above the other apostles nor entitled to prerogatives that belong only to God. It proves that even the best of men left to themselves will make grave blunders, and the more responsibilities placed upon the human agent and the higher his position to dictate and control, the more mischief he will do if he does not carefully follow the way of the Lord. It is recorded that others may profit by it, as a solemn warning to men in high places not to fail in integrity but to keep close to principle. It is meant to give every man a sense of personal helplessness to steer straight and safely, since the grace of Christ is essential every day and His matchless grace alone can keep feet from falling.