Who was Peter afraid of when he separated himself from the Gentiles?
Peter separated himself from the Gentiles because he feared the Jewish men who came from James in Jerusalem. He was not afraid of God, but of those men; he withdrew and separated himself after they arrived at Antioch. Scripture says he feared the men from Jerusalem.
Les explains that before certain people came from James, who was then the headman of Jerusalem, Peter ate with Paul and the Gentile believers regardless of the meal. But after Jewish emissaries came from James's congregation in Jerusalem, Peter became scared and afraid of them. Paul needed to maintain the testimony of the Gospel of Grace and prove to these Jews from Jerusalem that believers are free to eat whatever they want and are no longer under the dietary laws. Instead, Peter gave in and refused to go in and eat with Paul's Gentile converts. Paul had a short-temper side, got real upset with Peter, and called him two-faced. When no one from Jerusalem was there, Peter had no problem eating with Paul's Gentile converts, but as soon as those people came from Jerusalem, he acted as a good Jew and would not do it. Paul called him on it, noting that Peter did eat with the Gentiles but withdrew and separated himself, fearing not God but the men from Jerusalem. Les says he has always given Peter credit, and still does.
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.
More Questions
What did Peter do instead of standing with Paul and the Gentiles?
Instead of holding his ground, Peter gave in and refused to go in and eat with Paul's Gentile converts.
Why did Paul confront Peter to his face over the Gentile meals?
Paul confronted Peter in order to continue and maintain the testimony of Paul's Gospel of Grace and to prove to the Jews from Jerusalem that Gentiles are free.