Galatians 2:4-10

⁴ “Yet it was a concern because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy on our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. ⁵ But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. ⁶ But from those who were of considerable repute (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me. ⁷ But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised ⁸ (for He who was at work for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles), ⁹ and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.¹⁰ They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.”

Verse 4: Paul addresses the issue of false believers who were trying to undermine the freedom that believers have in Christ. These individuals were seeking to impose legalistic requirements and make the Galatian believers slaves to the law. Paul recognizes the importance of guarding the freedom that comes through faith in Christ.

Verse 5: Paul emphasizes that he and the other apostles did not yield to the pressure of these false believers. They stood firm in their commitment to the truth of the gospel. This highlights the importance of preserving the message of grace and not allowing legalistic teachings to distort the true nature of the gospel.

Verse 6: Paul emphasizes that the opinions or status of influential individuals did not sway him. He recognized that God does not show favoritism and that the message of the gospel is not dependent on human approval or endorsement. The gospel message remains unchanged and unaffected by the opinions of others.

Verse 7: Paul highlights the unity and agreement among the apostles regarding their respective roles in spreading the gospel. Peter was entrusted with preaching to the circumcised, while Paul was entrusted with preaching to the uncircumcised. This demonstrates that the gospel is for all people, regardless of their background or ethnicity.

Verse 8: Paul affirms that God was working through both Peter and himself as apostles, each with their specific mission. This underscores the unity and cooperation among the apostles in spreading the gospel message. It also highlights the inclusivity of the gospel, reaching both Jews and Gentiles.

Verse 9: Paul recounts the support and affirmation he received from James, Peter, and John, who were recognized as pillars in the early church. They acknowledged the grace given to Paul and Barnabas and agreed that they should focus on preaching to the Gentiles, while the others focused on the circumcised. This demonstrates the unity and cooperation among the apostles in fulfilling their respective roles in spreading the gospel.