Paul Opposes Peter at Antioch

The Gospel for the Gentiles · Antioch in Syria

Galatians 2:11–14

¹¹But when Peter came to Antioch, I confronted him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. ¹²Before certain people arrived from James, Peter had been eating with Gentile believers. But when those people showed up, he pulled back and separated himself, because he was afraid of the circumcision group. ¹³The other Jewish believers also acted hypocritically with him, so much so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴When I saw that they weren't acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of everyone, "You're a Jew, but you've been living like a Gentile, not like a Jew. So how can you now turn around and force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?"

Read Galatians 2

Up nextPeter Writes to the Churches1 Peter 5:12–13

About this event

What happened?

When Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when certain men came from James, he drew back and kept himself apart, because he feared the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in this hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray. Paul opposed Peter to his face in front of them all, because they were not walking in step with the truth of the gospel.

Who is here?

Paul
Barnabas
Men who came from James
The other Jews

Where did this happen?

Antioch in Syria

A large city in Syria, north of Israel, where the disciples were first called Christians.

Where this fits

Event 8 of 8 in The Gospel for the Gentiles: God shows Peter that the good news is for the Gentiles too.

Good to know

Galatians does not say whether this happened before or after the council in Acts 15, and readers place it differently. The KJV reads “Peter” in these verses; the BSB reads “Cephas.”

Keep exploring

Before thisPeter Speaks at the CouncilActs 15:4–12 After thisPeter Writes to the Churches1 Peter 5:12–13

Peter's Story