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Galatians 2:14

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But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

But {G235} when {G3753} I saw {G1492} that {G3754} they walked {G3716} not {G3756} uprightly {G3716} according to {G4314} the truth {G225} of the gospel {G2098}, I said {G2036} unto Peter {G4074} before {G1715} them all {G3956}, If {G1487} thou {G4771}, being {G5225} a Jew {G2453}, livest {G2198} after the manner of Gentiles {G1483}, and {G2532} not {G3756} as do the Jews {G2452}, why {G5101} compellest thou {G315} the Gentiles {G1484} to live as do the Jews {G2450}?

But when I saw that they were not walking a straight path, keeping in line with the truth of the Good News, I said to Kefa, right in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Goy and not like a Jew, why are you forcing the Goyim to live like Jews?

When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Commentary

Galatians 2:14 records the pivotal moment when the Apostle Paul publicly confronted Peter (also known as Cephas) in Antioch over his inconsistent behavior regarding the truth of the gospel. This verse highlights Paul's steadfast commitment to the core message of salvation by grace through faith, free from the requirements of the Mosaic Law.

Context of Galatians 2:14

This verse is part of Paul's defense of his apostleship and the purity of the gospel message, particularly against those who insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised and observe Jewish customs to be truly saved (often referred to as the Judaizers). The incident in Antioch described here involves Peter, who initially ate freely with Gentile believers but then withdrew and separated himself when "certain from James" arrived (see Galatians 2:12). This act of withdrawal, followed by Barnabas and other Jews, pressured the Gentiles to adopt Jewish customs, undermining the unity of the church and the principle of Christian liberty.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Truth of the Gospel: Paul's primary concern was the distortion of the gospel, which teaches that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, not by adherence to the Law. Peter's actions implied that Gentile believers needed to "live as do the Jews" to be fully accepted, contradicting the principle of justification by faith alone.
  • Hypocrisy and Inconsistency: Paul pointed out Peter's hypocrisy: Peter, a Jew, lived freely "after the manner of Gentiles" when convenient, but then compelled Gentiles to live like Jews through his actions. This inconsistency meant he "walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel."
  • Christian Liberty and Unity: The incident underscored the freedom believers have in Christ from the ceremonial law. Compelling Gentiles to adopt Jewish customs jeopardized their freedom in Christ and created division between Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul was defending the unity of the body of Christ, where all are one in Him regardless of ethnic or legal background.
  • Apostolic Accountability: This public rebuke of Peter, a leading apostle, demonstrates that even those in positions of authority are accountable to the truth of the gospel. Paul's courage to confront Peter "before them all" highlights the supremacy of divine truth over personal prestige or social pressure.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "walked not uprightly" translates the Greek word orthopodeō (ὀρθοποδέω), which literally means "to walk straight" or "to walk with straight feet." In this context, it signifies living consistently or in conformity with a standard. Paul observed that Peter's actions were not consistent with the "truth of the gospel" – his behavior deviated from the straight path of the gospel's implications regarding Christian freedom and unity.

Practical Application

Galatians 2:14 challenges believers to live with integrity and consistency, ensuring their actions align with their professed faith in the gospel. It reminds us:

  • To guard against hypocrisy, where our private convictions or practices differ from our public walk, especially in matters of faith and doctrine.
  • To stand firm for the truth of the gospel, even when it means confronting respected leaders or popular opinions.
  • To embrace and defend Christian liberty, ensuring that no unnecessary burdens are placed on fellow believers that detract from the sufficiency of Christ's work.
  • To prioritize unity in Christ, remembering that in Him, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, but all are one (Galatians 3:28).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Galatians 2:5 (7 votes)

    To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

  • Acts 10:28 (5 votes)

    And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

  • Acts 15:10 (5 votes)

    Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

  • Acts 15:11 (5 votes)

    But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

  • 1 Timothy 5:20 (4 votes)

    Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

  • Acts 15:28 (3 votes)

    For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

  • Acts 15:29 (3 votes)

    That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.