Galatians 2:8
For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Galatian churches to defend his apostolic authority against those demanding Gentile circumcision. He recounts a Jerusalem meeting where church leaders acknowledged his distinct commission alongside Peter’s.
The words — ἐνεργήσας (energēsas) translates literally as "having worked." It denotes the divine activity that empowered both Peter’s mission to the circumcised and Paul’s mission to the Gentiles.
The thread — The parallel divine commissioning appears in Acts 9:15 and Acts 22:21, where God directs Paul to carry His name to the Gentiles. Peter’s earlier ministry to Jews is recorded in Acts 2:14.
Why it lands — The text states that God worked in both Peter’s and Paul’s apostleships. This requires a reader to acknowledge that gospel authority rests on divine commission rather than human ritual or status.
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
(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
Cross-references
- Acts 9:15 “Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.
- Acts 22:21 Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
- Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words.
- Acts 15:12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
- Acts 19:11 God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,
- Acts 21:19 Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
- Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- Acts 1:25 to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”
- Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
- Acts 4:4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.