Galatians 2:14 Commentary and Bible Study

This was a time for public rebuke. Paul did not take Peter to one side and correct him privately, or wait till Peter was on his own to spare him the indignity of being publicly shown to be at fault. Peter had brought others into his sin and a large part of the damage that resulted from his failure was the harmful message that his actions had sent to Jews and Gentiles. The only way that this damage could be undone was for Peter to publicly admit his fault. There are times when rebuke is better given privately, but there are times when it must be given publicly. Paul instructs Timothy, ‘Them (elders) that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear’ (1 Timothy 5:20). If an elder, a public person, has been an example of evil, he must also be made an example of confession and repentance.The way in which Paul goes about this correction is highly instructive, for he is at pains to show Peter why he is in error, and not simply to rebuke him. It is not enough to prove him wrong in the eyes of others; Paul must also convince Peter’s conscience, because unless he sees his fault clearly, he will not be able to repent in any meaningful way. But Peter was a Jew. How was it that he now lived after the manner of Gentiles? The answer is that he had been shown by a vision that he should not call any Gentile common if God had cleansed them. He understood that it was not necessary to keep the Law of Moses in order to be justified before God, and it was not necessary either to live by the ceremonial law and to live a distinctly Jewish manner of life. Nevertheless God did not require all converted Jews to instantly give up living as Jews and cease going to the temple and observing special days, and eating special food. For that generation which had been brought up under the law, it was going to be extremely difficult to suddenly drop that way of life. God therefore permitted them to continue living according to their Jewish traditions as long as they understood that this did not form any part of their salvation. It followed from this that God did not require such things of the Gentiles, and for a Gentile who was born free of the law to choose willingly to live by it, was to take a far more significant step than for a Jew who was brought up under the law to continue in it even after conversion. Peter was in danger of sending a signal to the Gentiles that the continuation of a distinctive Jewish way of life was necessary for all.