Bible Strands
Galatians 2:14
When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul confronts Cephas publicly before the assembled group after observing that Jewish believers had withdrawn from table fellowship with Gentile Christians. This intervention follows Peter’s hypocritical separation and the subsequent influence that even led Barnabas astray.
The words — The Greek term ὀρθοποδοῦσιν (orthopodousin) literally means "walking uprightly" or "walking in step," describing consistent conduct. Paul links this action to πρὸς (pros), indicating that their behavior must align "according to" or in direct correspondence with the truth of the gospel.
The thread — Paul’s insistence on gospel consistency mirrors his earlier refusal to yield to legalists for even a moment (Galatians 2:5). The same conflict between Jewish boundary markers and Gentile inclusion surfaces when Peter receives a vision nullifying food restrictions (Acts 10:28) and when the Jerusalem assembly rejects placing a burdensome yoke on new believers (Acts 15:10).
Why it lands — The text requires readers to stop enforcing cultural or ceremonial divisions that contradict the gospel’s plain message. It demands that believers evaluate whether their practices force others to adopt requirements that Christ himself did not impose.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Cross-references
- Acts 10:28 He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
- Galatians 2:5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
- Acts 15:10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
- 1 Timothy 5:20 But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
- Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
- Proverbs 2:7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
- Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
- Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
- Acts 15:19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
- Acts 15:24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.