But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Parallel translations
- WEB But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.
- BSB When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned.
- NKJV Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;
- NASB But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
- NLT But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul openly opposed Peter at Antioch because Peter stood condemned. The gospel's truth matters more than any leader's reputation.
Overview
Even Peter, a pillar apostle, could err in practice, and Paul confronted him directly. This incident shows that no one is above correction when the gospel is at stake. Paul's willingness to resist Peter publicly underscores how seriously he guarded the truth of justification by faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 25
- 1 Tim 5:20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
- Gal 2:14But 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?
- Acts 15:1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
- 2 Cor 5:16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
- Acts 15:30–35So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
- Matt 16:23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
- Jas 3:2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
- Jude 1:3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
- Gal 2:5To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
- Gal 2:9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
- 1 Jn 1:8–10If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- Matt 16:17–18And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
- Gal 2:7But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
- 2 Cor 12:11I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
- 2 Cor 11:21–28I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
- 2 Cor 11:5For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
- Exod 32:21–22And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
- Jonah 4:3–4Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
- Acts 23:1–5And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
- Jonah 4:9And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
- Num 20:12And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
- Acts 11:19Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
- Jer 1:17Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
- Acts 15:37–39And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
- Jonah 1:3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
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Christ at the center
Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
How Galatians 2:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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