By Andrew Williams
“But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. When I saw that they were not following the truth of the Gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, ‘Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?’” Galatians 2:11-14 (NLT)
Good morning fellow disciples.
This passage provides a powerful reminder of the importance of standing firm in the truth of the Gospel, even in the face of peer pressure or fear of criticism. Paul confronts Peter (also known as Cephas) because Peter, out of fear of criticism from certain Jewish believers, abandoned his earlier actions of eating and fellowshipping freely with Gentile believers. By withdrawing, Peter’s actions contradicted the truth of the Gospel—that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, and not by adherence to Jewish laws or traditions.
Paul’s boldness in addressing Peter’s hypocrisy highlights the necessity of accountability within the body of Christ. It also reminds us that even mature believers, like Peter, can falter under pressure. However, the Gospel truth must always take precedence over cultural or social expectations. This moment teaches us to evaluate our actions and attitudes to ensure they align with the message of grace and unity in Christ.
This passage empowers us to stand courageously for the truth of the Gospel, even when it’s uncomfortable or when others around us may compromise. Like Paul, we are called to hold ourselves and others accountable to the message of grace, ensuring that our actions do not contradict the unity and freedom found in Christ. If Peter—a key leader in the early church—struggled with fear and hypocrisy, we can recognize that we, too, may face similar challenges. However, this story reminds us to redirect our focus from the approval of others to the approval of God. By doing so, we can walk boldly in the truth and help others do the same.
This week, examine your actions and attitudes to ensure they reflect the truth of the Gospel. Are there areas where fear of criticism or desire for approval might be leading you to compromise? If so, ask God to redirect your focus to His truth and give you the courage to live in alignment with His Word. Additionally, if you see a fellow believer struggling in this area, lovingly and humbly encourage them to return to the truth of the Gospel, just as Paul did with Peter.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the truth of the Gospel, which brings freedom, grace, and unity through Jesus Christ. I confess that at times I allow fear of criticism or the pressure to conform to lead me astray. Redirect my focus from seeking approval from others to standing firmly in Your truth. Give me the courage to live out the Gospel in both word and action, and help me to lovingly hold others accountable to this same truth. May my life reflect the grace and unity that comes through faith in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
