What did Paul do when Peter came to Antioch after the Jerusalem Council?
Paul publicly opposed Peter to his face at Antioch after the Jerusalem Council. Peter was to be blamed, so Paul confronted him openly rather than privately, and the rebuke was embarrassing for Peter. Paul did not let Peter's fault go uncorrected.
Les explains that sometime after the Jerusalem Council, Peter came up to visit the Antioch Church, and Paul says, “I withstood him to the face.” Les pictures Peter as a big, tall Galilean and Paul as a shorter, typical Jew, so he imagines Paul may have had to stand on something to look Peter eyeball to eyeball. The statement says Paul withstood him publicly, which must have been embarrassing for Peter, because Peter was to be blamed—he was at fault. Les also notes this was not the first time Peter stumbled, and he was just as human as anyone; here he stumbled, and Paul called him on it.
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
When did Peter come to Antioch?
Peter came to Antioch sometime after the Jerusalem Council. Scripture indicates he visited the Antioch church, and Paul withstood him to the face publicly there because Peter was to be blamed. The visit occurred after the council's resolution, when Gentile believers were free from dietary laws.
Where and when did Paul confront Peter to his face?
Paul confronted Peter to his face publicly in the church at Antioch, sometime after the Jerusalem Council. Peter had come to Antioch to visit, and Paul withstood him because Peter was to be blamed for his conduct. This confrontation occurred after the Jerusalem Council and was public.
More Questions
Why did Paul confront Peter to his face?
Paul confronted Peter in order to continue on and maintain the testimony of the Gospel of Grace, so he could prove to the Jews from Jerusalem that believers are free to eat whatever they want.