A. The church at Antioch of Syria was established when
Jewish Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene came preaching the gospel to the
Gentiles (Acts 11:19-30).
1.
This was shortly
after the first Gentiles had been converted to Christ at Caesarea (Acts 10).
2.
When the church
at Jerusalem heard that large numbers of Gentiles were turning to the Lord,
they sent Barnabas to them. He also
brought Saul (Paul) to them, and for a year they taught the gospel to many
souls at Antioch.
B. In Galatians 2:11-21, the apostle Paul records an
incident that happened at Antioch and says, "But when Cephas came to Antioch, I
opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned” (v. 11).
1.
It seems most
likely that this incident occurred after the events recorded in Acts 15:1-29,
for it appears that Paul described those events in Galatians 2:1-10. Therefore, the events of Galatians 2:11-21
likely happened in the timeframe of Acts 15:30-35.
2.
This incident
involving Peter was typical of a problem in the early church, which was the
Jewish Christians' false expectation for the Gentile Christians to keep the Law
of Moses. This was such a problem that
even Peter and Barnabas were caught up in it.
C. In our lesson, the focus will be to draw lessons from
this incident about how problems can develop in the church and how to solve
them.
II. PETER'S ERROR
A. Peter was guilty of hypocrisy in his behavior toward
the Gentile Christians at Antioch.
1.
Paul explains the
problem in Galatians 2:12-13:
For prior to the coming of certain men from James, [Cephas]
used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and
hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy,
with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
2.
Peter's hypocrisy
was his inconsistent behavior toward the Gentile Christians. What lessons can we learn from this?
a. Peter was condemned because he pretended not to have
fellowship with the Gentiles when the Jews were present. You can avoid Peter's mistake by avoiding
hypocrisy at all times. Never pretend to
be something that you are not.
b. Peter erred because of his fear of the "party of the
circumcision.” You can avoid Peter's
error by being aware of others' influence on you. Do not be drawn into sinful behavior because
of the sinful behavior of others.
c.
Peter caused the
rest of the Jews and even Barnabas to sin against their Gentile brethren. If you are not aware of your influence on
others, then you could mislead them just as Peter misled the Jewish Christians. Be careful not to draw others into sin.
B. This was especially disappointing because Peter had
been the first to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.
1.
In Acts 10, Peter
said, "God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean” (v.
28), and "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show
partiality” (v. 34). He had then
proceeded to preach the gospel to the Gentiles in Cornelius' home.
2.
Nevertheless,
Peter did not observe his own words when he came to Antioch in the presence of
Jews and Gentiles. What lessons can we
learn from this?
a. Men are fallible, and Peter was a mere man and not an
infallible pope as the Roman Catholic Church claims (Acts 10:26). Regardless of how others esteem a man, you
should follow him only as far as he follows Christ (1Cor. 11:1).
b. This matter had already been settled at Jerusalem
(Acts 15:1-29), but the hypocrisy continued.
If Peter and Barnabas could be carried away in hypocrisy, then so can
you. Therefore, be on guard lest you
fall (1Cor. 10:12).
III. PAUL'S REBUKE OF PETER
A. Paul's rebuke of Peter was as open as Peter's
hypocrisy.
1.
In Galatians 2:14,
Paul wrote, "But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth
of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live
like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles
to live like Jews?'”
2.
This was a bold
approach by Paul. What can we learn from
it?
a. Paul's actions before the church were necessary
because of the influence and effect of Peter's conduct before the church. You may have to take such actions against a
brother someday in light of the Lord's directions in Matthew 18:15-17.
b. Paul took the matter directly to Peter. When faced with a similar situation, do not
engage in whispering and gossip campaigns, but go directly to the brother in
sin.
c.
Peter thought it
was acceptable for him to live like the Gentiles, but later he behaved as if
the Gentiles were condemned. To avoid
such hypocrisy yourself, do not expect more of others than you expect of
yourself (Matt. 7:1-5).
B. The Jewish Christians recognized that they could not
be justified by the Law of Moses, so it was hypocritical for Peter and the
others to expect the Gentile Christians to comply with the Law.
1.
Notice Galatians
2:15-19:
"We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the
Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus,
so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law;
since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. But if, while seeking to be justified in
Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of
sin? May it never be! For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed,
I prove myself to be a transgressor. For
through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.”
2.
This is the
substance of Paul's argument with Peter.
Consider it carefully.
a. Paul is invoking to the Jews' false sense of sinless
superiority and disdain toward the Gentiles.
Of course, the Jews were not actually sinless, but many thought they
were (Rom. 2:1).
b. The Jews, who had realized that they could not be
justified (saved) through the Law, had sought salvation in Christ. In doing so, they discovered and confessed
that they were also sinners. In other
words, the Jews found they were no better than the Gentiles.
c.
Did the Jews
become sinners because of Christ and the gospel? Of course not! They had always been sinners even under the
Law, but they did not always realize it.
Christ and the gospel exposed their sin and taught them the truth.
d. The Law was a tutor to lead the Jews to Christ and
life in Him (Gal. 3:24-25). Why then
would Peter or anyone else rebuild the Law by compelling the Gentiles to
observe it? The Law never could justify
the Jews or anyone else. Even so, the "party
of the circumcision” persisted in this error.
3.
What other
lessons can we learn from these verses?
a. Do not think more highly of yourself than is proper,
for we are all sinners (Rom. 3:23).
b. Do not to exalt yourself above others by comparing
yourself with others (Luke 18:10-14; 2Cor. 10:12).
C. Finally, Paul reminded Peter that the life of a
Christian is one of faith and that righteousness comes by the grace of God
rather than the Law.
1.
In Galatians
2:20-21, Paul made this conclusion in his rebuke of Peter:
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the 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. I do not nullify the grace of God,
for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
2.
What lessons can
we learn from these words?
a. Paul said that he was dead to the Law but alive to
God. He lived by faith in Christ. As a Christian, you must deny all other
masters, put aside all other motivations, and live a selfless life in the
service of the Lord.
b. In the time of Paul, those who sought to be justified
by Moses' Law were denying the grace of God.
Christians who did so fell from God's grace (Gal. 5:4). Likewise, if you seek salvation from the
works of the flesh today, then you also deny God's grace and fall from it.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. Paul described this episode to the Galatian Christians
so that they would see the folly of pursuing righteousness through the works of
the Law of Moses.
B. For us, we see this lesson and many more. May we apply them in order to live by faith
in the Son of God.
