Galatians 2:1-10
Verse 1 - Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
Acts 15:2 - It is 14 years from the conversion of Paul to Acts 15:1, which compares to Galatians 2:1,2. Paul does not return to Jerusalem until this time, and then only to defend the gospel against Judaizers.
Verse 2 - And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
And I went up by revelation - Paul was not compelled by the apostles and elders, or even the church. It was God who compelled Paul to go up to Jerusalem about this very important matter.
Communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles - Paul was not ashamed of the gospel he preached, even though he didn’t get that gospel from the apostles. Paul knew he was preaching the truth because his message came from God, not from man.
but privately to them which were of reputation - Paul spoke privately to the Apostles concerning the gospel he preached, not that he needed or wanted their approval, but that there would be no confusion when the question of circumcision and salvation was brought before the church.
lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. - Paul was not concerned that he had run in vain, but rather he wanted the apostles to know and fully understand that he hadn’t ran in vain, that all his ministry was solidly based on the gospel message they themselves preached.
These things prove beyond any reasonable doubt that Paul didn’t confer with any man, but received his gospel message from God Himself, through the leadership of the Holy Spirit of God while he was in the Arabian desert.
Verse 3 - But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
Gal. 2:4 makes it clear there will be no circumcision for Titus because the Judaizers would think it was for salvation.
This compares favorably to Acts 16:1-3 where Paul had Timotheus circumcised “…because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.”
If not being circumcised would be a hindrance to the gospel, then Timothy would be circumcised, but if being circumcised meant the observers thought Paul believed circumcision had something to do with the gospel, Titus would not be circumcised.
Verse 4 - And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
False brethren unawares brought in - These are the folks in Acts 15 who came in to the church spreading their false gospel of works for salvation (circumcision is necessary for salvation).
Lest we forget, there will also be false teachers among us.
As the last day draw nearer and nearer, there will be more and more false teachers.
B. Liberty - What is liberty? - Not doing what you want to do, but wanting to do what Christ wants you to do.
John 8:32,36 - If we know the truth, the truth will make us free, and if the son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. This is not talking about political freedom, or economic freedom, but freedom of the deepest set, freedom of thought and of the heart, with a peace from God that passes all understanding.
Rom. 8:21 - Jesus Christ has freed us from the corruption of this body and freely given to us the glorious liberty of Jesus Christ.
I Cor. 10:29 - Not freedom to sin in eating sacrifices to idols. It is no sin to eat such meat, but it is a hindrance to other believers if they think it is a sin.
II Cor. 3:17 - The Lord has given us of His Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
James 1:25 - The perfect law of liberty is the Holy Word of God, the Bible. Qualifications are: (1) look and (2) continue. The perfect law of liberty is Christ Himself, as Christ is the Word - John 1.
James 2:12 - We shall be judged by the law of liberty - the Word of God and Jesus Christ Himself.
I Peter 2:16 - We are free, but never free to sin, or perform wickedness. We are totally free to be the servants of Christ, and His Almighty Father.
The clear purpose of false teachers is never to give freedom.
They do not have liberty themselves, and doesn’t want us to have liberty.
They are deceived themselves, and they desire to deceive others.
Verse 5 - To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Verse 6 - But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
Having all the apostles together meant nothing to Paul. He wasn’t going to change what God had given him for anybody.
Verse 7 - But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
Contrariwise - Paul didn’t add to them, but them recognizing the power God had given to Paul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, the same gospel they preached to the Jews, added to and confirmed that God was with Paul.
Verse 8 - (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
There is no record of any great works done by Peter in preaching the everlasting gospel to the Jews. It is assumed those works stopped with the Jews, but the work of Paul continued to all the world. This is not saying anything against the ministry of Peter. It is simply stating the truth that the Jews make up some 1% of the total world population, so naturally, the ministry of Peter would not be as large as the work of Paul in preaching to the remaining 99% of the world population.
Verse 9 - And 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.
There is no record of when this was done, but it no doubt happened.
Verse 10 - Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.