Teks -- Galatians 2:12 (NET)

2:12 Until certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he stopped doing this and separated himself because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Gal 2:12 - For before that certain came from James

For before that certain came from James ( pro tou gar elthein tinas apo Iakōbou ).

The reason (gar ) for Paul’ s condemnation of Peter. Articular infinitive in the genitive after pro with the accusative of general reference (tinas ), "for before the coming as to some from James."Does Paul mean to say that these "certain"ones had been sent by James to Antioch to inspect the conduct of Peter and the other Jewish brethren? Some scholars think so. No doubt these brethren let the idea get out that they were emissaries "from James."But that idea is inconsistent with the position of James as president of the conference and the author of the resolution securing liberty to the Gentile Christians. No doubt these brethren threatened Peter to tell James and the church about his conduct and they reminded Peter of his previous arraignment before the Jerusalem Church on this very charge (Acts 11:1-18). As a matter of fact the Jerusalem Conference did not discuss the matter of social relations between Jews and Gentiles though that was the charge made against Peter (Act 11:1.).

Robertson: Gal 2:12 - He did eat with the Gentiles

He did eat with the Gentiles ( meta tōn ethnōn sunēsthien ).

It was his habit (imperfect tense).

Robertson: Gal 2:12 - He drew back

He drew back ( hupestellen ).

Imperfect tense, inchoative action, "he began to draw himself (heauton ) back."Old word hupostellō . See middle voice to dissemble (Act 20:20, Act 20:27), to shrink (Heb 10:38).

Robertson: Gal 2:12 - Separated himself

Separated himself ( aphōrizen heauton ).

Inchoative imperfect again, "began to separate himself"just like a Pharisee (see note on Gal 1:15) and as if afraid of the Judaizers in the Jerusalem Church, perhaps half afraid that James might not endorse what he had been doing.

Robertson: Gal 2:12 - Fearing them that were of the circumcision

Fearing them that were of the circumcision ( phoboumenos tous ek peritomēs ).

This was the real reason for Peter’ s cowardice. See Act 11:2 for "hoi ek peritomēs "(they of the circumcision), the very phrase here. It was not that Peter had changed his views from the Jerusalem resolutions. It was pure fear of trouble to himself as in the denials at the trial of Christ.

Vincent: Gal 2:12 - Did eat with

Did eat with ( συνήσθιεν )

A.V. misses the force of the imperfect, marking Peter's custom. Not only at church feasts, but at ordinary meals, in defiance of the Pharisaic that this prohibition was not binding (Act 10:28; Act 11:8, Act 11:9), and had defended that position in the apostolic conference (Act 15:7 ff.).

Vincent: Gal 2:12 - Withdrew and separated himself

Withdrew and separated himself ( ὑπέστελλεν καὶ ἀφώριζεν ἑαυτόν )

Or, began to withdraw, etc. Ὑποστέλλειν only here in Paul. It means, originally, to draw in or contract . Thus of furling sails, closing the fingers. Middle voice, to draw or shrink back from through fear . Hence, to dissemble or prevaricate . There seems to be no special reason for making it either a military metaphor, as Lightfoot, or a nautical metaphor, as Farrar. See on Act 20:20.

JFB: Gal 2:12 - certain

Men: perhaps James' view (in which he was not infallible, any more than Peter) was that the Jewish converts were still to observe Jewish ordinances, from which he had decided with the council the Gentiles should be free (Act 15:19). NEANDER, however, may be right in thinking these self-styled delegates from James were not really from him. Act 15:24 favors this. "Certain from James," may mean merely that they came from the Church at Jerusalem under James' bishopric. Still James' leanings were to legalism, and this gave him his influence with the Jewish party (Act 21:18-26).

JFB: Gal 2:12 - eat with . . . Gentiles

As in Act 10:10-20, Act 10:48, according to the command of the vision (Act 11:3-17). Yet after all, this same Peter, through fear of man (Pro 29:25), was faithless to his own so distinctly avowed principles (Act 15:7-11). We recognize the same old nature in him as led him, after faithfully witnessing for Christ, yet for a brief space, to deny Him. "Ever the first to recognize, and the first to draw back from great truths" [ALFORD]. An undesigned coincidence between the Gospels and the Epistle in the consistency of character as portrayed in both. It is beautiful to see how earthly misunderstandings of Christians are lost in Christ. For in 2Pe 3:15, Peter praises the very Epistles of Paul which he knew contained his own condemnation. Though apart from one another and differing in characteristics, the two apostles were one in Christ.

JFB: Gal 2:12 - withdrew

Greek, "began to withdraw," &c. This implies a gradual drawing back; "separated," entire severance.

Clarke: Gal 2:12 - Before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles

Before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles - Here was Peter’ s fault. He was convinced that God had pulled down the middle wall of partition that had so long separated the Jews and Gentiles, and he acted on this conviction, associating with the latter and eating with them; but when certain Jews came from James, who it appears considered the law still to be in force, lest he should place a stumbling-block before them he withdrew from all commerce with the converted Gentiles, and acted as if he himself believed the law to be still in force, and that the distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles should still be kept up.

Calvin: Gal 2:12 - For before that certain persons came

12.For before that certain persons came The state of the case is here laid down. For the sake of the Jews, Peter had withdrawn himself from the Gentiles, in order to drive them from the communion of the Church, unless they would relinquish the liberty of the Gospel, and submit to the yoke of the Law. If Paul had been silent here, his whole doctrine fell; all the edification obtained by his ministry was ruined. It was therefore necessary that he should rise manfully, and fight with courage. This shews us how cautiously we ought to guard against giving way to the opinions of men, lest an immoderate desire to please, or an undue dread of giving offense, should turn us aside from the right path. If this might happen to Peter, how much more easily may it happen to us, if we are not duly careful!

TSK: Gal 2:12 - certain // he did // he withdrew // fearing

certain : Gal 2:9; Act 21:18-25

he did : Act 10:28, Act 11:3; Eph 2:15, Eph 2:19-22, Eph 3:6

he withdrew : Isa 65:5; Luk 15:2; 1Th 5:22

fearing : Pro 29:25; Isa 57:11; Mat 26:69-75

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Gal 2:12

It should seem that Peter had been at Antioch some time; while he was there, there came down certain Jews from James, who was at Jerusalem: before they came Peter had communion with those Christians at Antioch, which were by birth Gentiles, and at meals eat as they eat, making no difference of meats, as the Jews did in obedience to the ceremonial law; but as soon as these zealots for the Jewish rites (though Christians) were come, Peter withdrew from the communion of the Gentile Christians, and was the head of a separate party; and all through fear of the Jews, lest they should, at their return to Jerusalem, make some report of him to his disadvantage, and expose him to the anger of the Jews.

Gill: Gal 2:12 - For before that certain came from James // he // did eat with the Gentiles // but when they were come he withdrew and separated himself // fearing them which were of the circumcision

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,

he, Peter,

did eat with the Gentiles; which is to be understood, not of eating at the Lord's table with them, but at their own tables: he knew that the distinction of meats was now laid aside, and that nothing was common and unclean of itself, and that every creature of God was good, and not to be refused if received with thankfulness; wherefore he made use of his Christian liberty, and ate such food dressed in such manner as the Gentiles did, without any regard to the laws and ceremonies of the Jews; and in this he did well, for hereby he declared his sense of things, that the ceremonial law was abolished, that not only the Gentiles are not obliged to it, but even the Jews were freed from it, and that the observance of it was far from being necessary to salvation: all which agreed with the preaching and practice of the Apostle Paul, and served greatly to confirm the same, and for this he was to be commended: nor is this mentioned by way of blame, but for the sake of what follows, which was blameworthy:

but when they were come he withdrew and separated himself; not from the church, and the communion of it, for then he had been guilty of schism, but from private conversation with the Gentiles: he did not visit them in their own houses, and sit down at table and eat with them, as he was wont to do; which argued great inconstancy and instability, very unbecoming one that seemed to be, and was a pillar in the church of God, as well as much dissimulation, for he knew better than he acted; his conduct did not agree with the true sentiments of his mind, which he covered and dissembled; and which must be very staggering to the believing Gentiles, to see so great a man behave in such a manner towards them, as if they were persons not fit to converse with, and as if the observance of Jewish rites and ceremonies was necessary to salvation. What induced him to take such a step was, his

fearing them which were of the circumcision: that is, the circumcised Jews, who professed faith in Christ, and were just now come from Jerusalem; not that he feared any danger from them; that they would abuse his person, or take away his life; but he might either fear he should come under their censure and reproofs, as he formerly had for going to Cornelius, and eating with him and his; or lest that they should be offended with him, and carry back an ill report of him, as not acting up to his character as an apostle of the circumcision. This led him into such a conduct; so true is that of the wise man, that "the fear of man bringeth a snare", Pro 29:25.