1. Study Galatians 2:6-14. In this paragraph, verses 6-10, what do you observe of the apostles? What is the term "right hand of fellowship" mean?

Paul and Barnabas were given the task of evangelizing to the Gentiles (the uncircumcised). Peter was given the task of evangelizing to the Jews (the circumcised). "The right hand of fellowship," while a subtle term, has great implications for today's church. Those who distorted doctrine, to fit more mainstream or socially acceptable thoughts, threatened the early church. There were three main heretical doctrines at that time: 1) Judiazers: Jewish Christians who insisted that Gentiles could not be a Christian unless they first became a Jew, 2) Gnostics: Gnostics held that Jesus was not God's Son and that there was no triune nature of God, and 3) Nicolaitans: These were extreme Gnostics who believed that their bodies were inherently evil and that their spirit defined their salvation; hence, they physically indulged without conscience. The early church dealt firmly with those who distorted the Word of God by: 1) barring their fellowship and thus preventing their influence and 2) prayed for their salvation. The Jerusalem Jews, James, Cephas (Peter), and John recognized that Paul and Barnabas' ministry was divinely authorized and supported their ministry by giving them the "right hand of fellowship."

2. From other references, what do you know about Antioch?

Because of the persecution of Christian Jews following the death of Stephan (Acts 7:59), many fled to Gentile cities. Antioch of Syria was one of the first Gentile churches established and was made up of Christian Jews and Gentiles.

3. In the next two paragraphs, verses 11-14, what did Peter do that upset Paul?

Jews and Gentiles typically ate separately, because they had different food customs. Some of the food conflicts that would face a Jew would be eating non-kosher foods such as pork. Paul preached that God accepted all regardless of the food one ate kosher or not. Despite being a Jew, Peter would also eat non-kosher food with the Gentiles. When the Jerusalem Jews came, Peter ate apart from the Gentiles. And as a leader, Peter caused other Christian Jews like Barnabas to follow suit. The hypocrisy is what upset Paul.

4. Why did Peter, the apostle and witness of Christ's miracles and ascension, behave so hypocritically? How did Paul respond to Peter's hypocrisy?

Peter appears to be more concerned about how his friends would view him than living by his convictions; he may have feared being seen not adhering to Jewish eating traditions namely eating non-kosher foods and with Gentiles. Paul rebuked Peter in front of the Jerusalem Jews for the hypocrisy and with a rhetorical reference of Peter as a Judiazer.