Galatians 2:1-14 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:6

But of these, who seemed to be somewhat ,.... Not the false brethren, but the Apostles James, Cephas, and John, who were חשובים , "men of great esteem": high in the opinion of all good men; not that they were looked upon to be more than human, as Simon Magus gave out that he was "some great one", and his followers thought him to be "the great power of God"; for such an extravagant conceit of these men was never entertained; nor were they thought to be something when they were nothing, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:7

But contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel ,.... James, Cephas, and John, were so far from blaming or correcting anything in the apostle's ministry, or adding anything to it, that they highly approved of it; and as a token of their agreement with him and Barnabas, gave them the right hand of fellowship: the reasons of their so doing are inserted here, and in the following verse, and in the next to that: the reason here given is, because they saw that the Gospel of the uncircumcision... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:8

For he that wrought effectually in Peter ,.... The Syriac version renders it, "he who exhorted Peter to"; the Arabic version is, "he who strengthened Peter in"; the Spirit of God is meant, who filled Peter with such eminent gifts, and inspired him with so much zeal and resolution to the apostleship of circumcision , to discharge his office as an apostle among the Jews; and who wrought by him such wonderful works for the confirmation of it, as curing the man that was lame from his birth,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:9

And when James, Cephas, and John ,.... These are the persons all along designed, though not till now named. James was the brother of our Lord, the son of Alphaeus, who wrote the epistle that goes by his name, made that famous speech in the synod at Jerusalem, Acts 15:13 , presided in that church, was a man of great holiness, and much esteemed of by the saints, and had a good report of them that were without. Cephas is Simon Peter. This name was given him by Christ, John 1:42 and in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:10

Only they would that we should remember the poor ,.... Not in a spiritual sense, as some have thought, though these the apostle was greatly mindful of; but properly and literally the poor as to the things of this world; and may design the poor in general, everywhere, in the several churches where they should be called to minister, and particularly the poor saints at Jerusalem; who were become such, either through the frequent calamities of the nation, and a dearth or scarcity of provisions... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:11

But when Peter was come to Antioch ,.... The Alexandrian copy, and others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, instead of "Peter", read "Cephas", who, by some ancient writers, is said to be not Peter the Apostle, named Cephas by Christ, but one of the seventy disciples. So Clemens F8 Apud Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 1. c. 12. says, that Cephas, of whom Paul speaks, that when he came to Antioch he withstood him to his face, was one of the seventy disciples who had the same... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:12

For before that certain came from James ,.... The Lord's brother, mentioned before with Cephas and John, who resided at Jerusalem, from whence these persons came; and who are said to come from James, because they came from the place and church where he was, though, it may be, not sent by him, nor with his knowledge. They were such as professed faith in Christ; they were "judaizing" Christians believing in Christ, but were zealous of the law. Now before the coming of these persons to Antioch,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:13

And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him ,.... Not the men that came from James, for they never acted otherwise, and therefore could not be said to dissemble; but the Jews that were members of this church at Antioch from the beginning; or who came along with Paul and Barnabas, and stayed with them there; see Acts 15:35 and who before had ate with the Gentiles, as Peter; but being under the same fear he was, and influenced by his example, concealed their true sentiments, and acted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:14

But when I saw that they walked not uprightly ,.... Or "did not foot it aright"; or "walked not with a right foot": they halted, as the Jews of old did, between two opinions, being partly for God, and partly for Baal; so these seemed, according to their conduct, to be partly for grace, and partly for the works of the law; they seemed to be for joining Christ and Moses, and the grace of the Gospel, and the ceremonies of the law together; they did not walk evenly, were in and out, did not make... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 2:1

Then fourteen years after - There is a considerable difference among critics concerning the time specified in this verse; the apostle is however generally supposed to refer to the journey he took to Jerusalem, about the question of circumcision, mentioned in Acts 15:4-5 , etc. These years, says Dr. Whitby, must be reckoned from the time of his conversion, mentioned here Galatians 1:18 , which took place a.d. 35 (33); his journey to Peter was a.d. 38 (36), and then between that and the... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 2:1

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