Single lesson
Galatians 2: The Council at Jerusalem
Galatians 2:1–10; Galatians 2:11–21
In Galatians 2, Paul tells about agreement in Jerusalem and a later disagreement in Antioch. Together these verses show that the good news about Jesus is not based on keeping the law, but on faith in Christ.
Before you teach
This passage comes as Paul explains the good news he preaches. In Jerusalem, respected leaders recognised his work among the Gentiles and did not require Titus to be circumcised. Later in Antioch, Paul publicly challenged Peter because Peter’s actions did not match the truth of the good news.
Students will be able to explain that Galatians 2 teaches justification by faith in Jesus Christ, and identify one way actions should match that truth.
Welcome: One good news for all people
4 minBriefly introduce two linked parts of the chapter. First, Paul meets leaders in Jerusalem about the good news he preaches among the Gentiles. Then, in Antioch, he corrects Peter when Peter’s behaviour sends the wrong message. Tell students they will listen for what stays the same in both parts: the truth of the good news.
Galatians 2:2, Galatians 2:7, Galatians 2:14
Read and explain: Jerusalem recognises Paul’s message
7 minRead Galatians 2:1-10 aloud. Explain that Titus was Greek and was not compelled to be circumcised. Paul says false brothers wanted to bring believers into bondage, but he would not give way, so the truth of the good news would continue. James, Cephas and John recognised the grace given to Paul and agreed on their shared work, while also asking him to remember the poor.
Galatians 2:3, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 2:5, Galatians 2:9, Galatians 2:10
Discuss: Antioch shows why this matters
6 minRead Galatians 2:11-14. Help students notice the problem. Peter had eaten with Gentiles, but later drew back because he feared those of the circumcision. Others copied him, including Barnabas. Paul says this was hypocrisy and that they were not walking uprightly according to the truth of the good news. Discuss how actions can confuse people when they do not match what is true.
Galatians 2:12, Galatians 2:13, Galatians 2:14
Make and respond: Faith in Christ reminder card
9 minRead Galatians 2:15-21, with special attention to verses 16 and 20. Explain in simple words that justified means being counted right with God, and Paul says this is through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law. Students choose either verse 16 or verse 20 for a reminder card. They write the verse reference and draw a simple picture showing trust in Jesus and living for God.
Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:19, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 2:21
Closing: Say the main teaching clearly
4 minReview the chapter with two short statements for students to complete: In Jerusalem, Paul did not give way because the truth of the good news mattered. In Antioch, Paul corrected Peter because his actions did not match that truth. Finish by repeating that righteousness is not through the law, and that believers live by faith in the Son of God.
Galatians 2:5, Galatians 2:14, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 2:21
Questions to explore
Why does Paul mention that Titus was not compelled to be circumcised?
Use the connection in the passage: Paul says false brothers wanted to bring believers into bondage, but he did not give way so that the truth of the good news might continue.
Galatians 2:3, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 2:5
What was wrong with Peter’s behaviour in Antioch?
Look for the change in his actions and Paul’s reason for correcting him: Peter drew back from Gentiles out of fear, and Paul says this was not walking uprightly according to the truth of the good news.
Galatians 2:12, Galatians 2:14
According to Paul, how is a person justified?
Answer with Paul’s repeated words in the text, and notice what he contrasts with faith in Christ.
Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21
Make, think or respond
Faith in Christ Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or markers
- Bible text to copy from
Try it together
- Ask each student to choose Galatians 2:16 or Galatians 2:20 as their key verse.
- Fold a piece of card or paper in half to make a small reminder card.
- On the front, write the verse reference and a few key words from the verse.
- Inside, draw a picture or symbol that matches the verse, such as open hands for faith or a heart and cross for Christ’s love.
- Invite students to share how their card connects to the main teaching of the passage.
This activity helps students remember Paul’s main point that believers are justified through faith in Jesus Christ and now live by faith in him.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, give two short verse choices on the board and let them copy only the reference plus three key words, then explain their drawing in one sentence.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to compare verses 16 and 20 and write one sentence explaining how the second verse supports the first.
An optional closing prayer
Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus Christ. Please help us trust in him, understand the truth of the good news, and live in ways that match what we say we believe. Amen.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Galatians 2
1 Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.
2 I 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.
3 But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
4 This 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,
5 to 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.
6 But 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,
7 but 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—
8 for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles—
9 and 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.
10 They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do.
11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 For 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.
13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
14 But 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,
16 yet 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.
17 But if while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!
18 For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.
19 For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God.
20 I 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.
21 I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.