Read & explore together
The Council at Jerusalem
In this part of Galatians, Paul explains a visit to Jerusalem and why it mattered for the Good News he preached. He shows agreement about the message, freedom for Gentile believers, and a shared concern to remember the poor.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This passage comes from a letter where Paul speaks in the first person about going to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus. He explains what he presented, what was not required of Titus, how respected leaders responded, and what they asked him to keep doing.
Galatians 2:1–10Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Paul’s Good News for the Gentiles was recognised by other leaders, and that this gospel freedom was not to be replaced by bondage.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Paul lays his message before respected leadersPaul says that after fourteen years he went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus.
Explanation
Paul says that after fourteen years he went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus. He went by revelation and set before respected people the Good News he preached among the Gentiles. He did this privately because he did not want his work to be running in vain.
02Titus was not compelled, and Paul resisted bondageTitus was Greek, yet he was not compelled to be circumcised. Paul connects this issue with false brothers who had slipped in to spy out the liberty believers have in Christ Jesus.
Explanation
Titus was Greek, yet he was not compelled to be circumcised. Paul connects this issue with false brothers who had slipped in to spy out the liberty believers have in Christ Jesus. Their aim was bondage, so Paul says they did not yield even for an hour, for the truth of the Good News.
03Important people added nothing to Paul’s messagePaul says that those reputed to be important imparted nothing to him. He adds that God does not show partiality to man.
Explanation
Paul says that those reputed to be important imparted nothing to him. He adds that God does not show partiality to man. In this passage, that means status did not change the truth of the message Paul preached, even though those leaders were respected.
04Different fields of service, shared grace and fellowshipThe respected leaders saw that Paul had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been for the circumcised.
Explanation
The respected leaders saw that Paul had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been for the circumcised. Paul says the same God worked through both. James, Cephas and John then gave Barnabas and Paul the right hand of fellowship and agreed on their fields of service.
05One practical requestThe leaders made one request: remember the poor. Paul says this was something he was already eager to do.
Explanation
The leaders made one request: remember the poor. Paul says this was something he was already eager to do. The passage ends with gospel agreement joined to practical care, showing that shared faith was expressed in shared concern for needy people.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Paul say he met privately with respected leaders in Jerusalem?
Look at Paul’s stated reason in the verse and notice that he wanted to make clear the Good News he preached among the Gentiles.
02What does Titus show about the pressure Paul was resisting?
Notice Titus is described as Greek and was still not compelled to be circumcised, even when others wanted to bring believers into bondage.
03What agreement do James, Cephas and John make with Paul and Barnabas?
Trace both parts of the agreement: the right hand of fellowship and the shared understanding about ministry to Gentiles and to the circumcision.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Galatians 2:1–10
1Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.
2I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.
3But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
4This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage,
5to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you.
6But from those who were reputed to be important—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,
7but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcised—
8for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles—
9and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.
10They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do.