Les Feldick Bible Study

What did Peter and Barnabas get the okay from the Jerusalem leadership to do in Galatians 2?

Peter and Barnabas received the Jerusalem leadership’s approval to continue their ministry to the Gentiles, while the Jerusalem leaders continued ministry to the Jews. The agreement also asked Paul to remember the poor saints in Jerusalem, which he was forward to do, as recorded in Galatians 2.

Les explains that the Jerusalem leadership finally gave Peter and Barnabas the okay to continue ministry to the Gentiles, while the Jerusalem leaders would continue ministry to the Jews. He then reads Galatians 2:9, where James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace given to Paul and gave the right hands of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas, agreeing that they should go to the heathen, or Gentiles, and the Jerusalem pillars to the circumcision, or the Jew. Verse 10 adds the condition that they remember the poor, the saints in Jerusalem, which Paul says they were forward to do. Les notes that Jerusalem’s leadership put strings on the agreement, including wanting Paul to remember the poor saints, who had become destitute after selling their goods in Acts 2–4 in expectation of the King. God providentially provided for them through Paul’s Gentile converts, as designated in Romans 15 and 1 Corinthians 16. Les also connects this to Acts 15, where Peter came to Paul’s defense, and says God had prepared Peter through the house of Cornelius.

More Questions

Who would continue ministry to the Jews according to the agreement in Galatians 2?

Les teaches that the Jerusalem leadership would continue their ministry to the Jews.

Why did Paul and Peter have a confrontation in Galatians 2?

Paul and Peter's confrontation in Galatians 2 happened because Peter could not get out of his system that he could associate with Gentile believers, and he withdrew when Jews came from Jerusalem.

When was the Jerusalem Council in Galatians 2?

Galatians chapter 2 records the Jerusalem Council, which took place about 51 or 52 A.D.