Read & explore together
Paul Confronts Cephas
Paul describes a sharp confrontation with Cephas in Antioch and uses it to explain a central truth of the good news: people are made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of Galatians, Paul recalls what happened when Peter came to Antioch. He first describes Peter’s change in behaviour toward Gentile believers, then reports what he said publicly. The passage moves from the immediate problem to Paul’s teaching about justification, grace and life in Christ.
Galatians 2:11–21Main takeaway
This passage teaches that separating from Gentile believers as if law-keeping makes people right with God goes against the truth that justification is through faith in Jesus Christ.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Paul opposes Peter openlyPaul says he resisted Peter to his face because Peter “stood condemned”. The issue becomes clear in the next verse: Peter had been eating with Gentiles, but then drew back and separated himself.
Explanation
Paul says he resisted Peter to his face because Peter “stood condemned”. The issue becomes clear in the next verse: Peter had been eating with Gentiles, but then drew back and separated himself. Paul identifies fear of “those who were of the circumcision” as the reason for Peter’s withdrawal.
02A bad example spreadsPaul says Peter’s action did not stay private. Other Jews joined him in what Paul calls hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was carried along.
Explanation
Paul says Peter’s action did not stay private. Other Jews joined him in what Paul calls hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was carried along. In verse 14 Paul says this behaviour was not “uprightly according to the truth of the Good News” because it pressured Gentiles toward Jewish ways.
03Justified by faith, not works of the lawPaul’s reported words move to the heart of the issue. He says that even Jews know a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.
Explanation
Paul’s reported words move to the heart of the issue. He says that even Jews know a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. He repeats the point strongly: by works of the law “no flesh will be justified”.
04Living to God through ChristPaul rejects the idea that seeking justification in Christ makes Christ a servant of sin. Instead, rebuilding what was torn down would show the real wrong.
Explanation
Paul rejects the idea that seeking justification in Christ makes Christ a servant of sin. Instead, rebuilding what was torn down would show the real wrong. Paul says he died to the law to live to God, has been crucified with Christ, and now lives by faith in the Son of God.
05Grace is not set asidePaul finishes with a clear conclusion. He does not reject God’s grace. If righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Explanation
Paul finishes with a clear conclusion. He does not reject God’s grace. If righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing. That statement shows why Paul treated Peter’s behaviour so seriously: it touched the meaning of Christ’s death and God’s grace.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why did Paul say he opposed Peter publicly in Antioch?
Look at Peter’s change in behaviour and Paul’s explanation that it was not in line with the truth of the Good News.
02What phrase does Paul repeat to explain how a person is justified?
Notice the contrast Paul makes several times between “works of the law” and “faith in Jesus Christ”.
03How does Paul describe his present life as a believer?
Use Paul’s words about being crucified with Christ, Christ living in him, and living by faith in the Son of God.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Galatians 2:11–21
11But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
13And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
14But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?
15“We, being Jews by nature and not Gentile sinners,
16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
17But if while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!
18For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.
19For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God.
20I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.
21I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”