He began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. Galatians 2:12 (NIV)
When Gentiles came to faith in Christ, the so-called circumcision group told them, “Now, you need to adopt the distinctives that have been given to us.” These distinctives included circumcision, dietary laws, Old Testament festivals, etc.
The circumcision group put pressure on Peter and Paul with very different results.
What happened when they turned the heat up on Paul? “Some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you” (2:4-5).
What happened when they turned up the heat on Peter? “When they arrived, he [Peter] began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group” (2:12).
Soon there was a great division, and Paul had to stand up to Peter. “When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, ‘You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?’” (2:14).
The circumcision group believed the gospel, but they felt that Christian unity depended on everyone adopting their treasured distinctives. If they had prevailed, the gospel would have stayed within the bounds of Jewish culture.
But Jesus told the disciples that their calling was to reach the world with the gospel! That’s our calling as well. Don’t limit your horizon to a narrow band of people who are like you. Look for ways to reach people who are different from you so that they can hear the gospel message.
Pray for an opportunity to share the gospel with one person in your life who is very different from you.
