Galatians Part 3 | Chapter 2:1–10

Last updated on Apr 18, 2026

Paul's Gospel is Approved and Verified by the Apostles | Galatians 2:1–10

Read Galatians 2:1–10

Paul had been making his case regarding his calling by God to proclaim the only true Gospel. He was doing this through his personal testimony of having encountered Jesus Christ and the change it made in his life.

Now Paul proceeds to tell them that he also met with James, Peter and John (those who seemed influential) who were the pillars of the church in Jerusalem.

To help give greater assurance for the Gospel he was proclaiming, he also told them that he met with James, Peter and John — who affirmed that what he was teaching was the same as their message.

The apostles had nothing to add or change about the Gospel he proclaimed.

Galatians 2:6b — "...those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me."

They saw that Paul was called by God to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles and extended the right hand of fellowship.

Galatians 2:9 — "and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised."

This was an act or vow of partnership — an act of approval and acceptance.

💬 Discussion Questions

Why do you think Peter, James and John had been perceived as pillars of the church and those who "seemed influential"?

Paul also sought to meet with them because he wanted to be sure that the Gospel he was proclaiming was the same as theirs. Paul was called by God to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles and he hoped that it was the same as that proclaimed by James, Peter and John.

God had called these different apostles to proclaim His truth — they all proclaimed the same message, the same doctrine. Paul was called to minister to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jews.

Paul Made This Journey Because He Was Called by the Holy Spirit

For Paul to go to Jerusalem and meet with James, Peter and John was because of a revelation made by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:2 — "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'"

Paul and Barnabas were being obedient to the calling of the Holy Spirit — this wasn't their decision but God's. Paul didn't stifle this call or argue with what the Spirit asked him to do, but instead he embraced it.

Paul Had Two Companions He Mentioned Here: Barnabas and Titus

Barnabas

Barnabas was a Cypriot Jew (came from Cyprus)
Barnabas was a faithful companion of Paul who accompanied him on his first missionary journey
His name means "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36)
Barnabas was the one who introduced and vouched for Paul to the disciples and apostles

Acts 9:26–28 — "And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord."

Barnabas, having believed in Paul's conversion, successfully vouched for Paul — and the truth of this was seen in the work Paul accomplished.

Titus

Titus was sort of a spiritual son to Paul. He accompanied Paul on likely a few of his missionary journeys and was used by God to grow the church.

Titus 1:4a — "To Titus, my true child in a common faith:..."

Titus was a Gentile who became a believer in Jesus Christ. This is quite fitting, as the Gentiles are whom God called Paul to preach to. Paul of course wrote him a letter which is known as the Book of Titus. In this letter Paul was directing Titus to appoint elders in every town to serve God's church, and listed several requirements of what a truly godly leader looks like from a character perspective.

The Importance of Having Faithful and Supportive Christian Friends

When you look at the Scriptures you will always find that whomever God has chosen to proclaim His Gospel, He never left them alone. Peter, Paul and of course Jesus were always accompanied by faithful Christian friends. They never set out to do the work of God alone — they always had help.

💬 Discussion Questions

What does this teach or show us about having these same types of relationships?

The Apostles Affirmed That Neither Works Nor Becoming a Jew Was a Requirement for Salvation

At the council of Jerusalem, it was made very clear from the apostles (being led by the Spirit) that one did not have to do works or become a Jew to be saved.

Here Paul tells them that Titus, who is a Greek and Gentile, was never required to be circumcised.

Galatians 2:3 — "But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek."

This was just one of the requirements the Judaizers were adding to God's plan of salvation. That the apostles did not require this of Titus was significant proof indeed.

Paul, Barnabas and Titus Never Yielded to False Teachers Because They Sought to Preserve the Truth of the Gospel | Galatians 2:4–5

Read Galatians 2:4–5

There were false brothers (Judaizers) who sought to twist the truth of the Gospel away from the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus.

This freedom is that salvation is a free gift from God — obtained because of God's grace through faith.
The Judaizers sought slavery to works-based righteousness.

Yet Paul, Barnabas and Titus stood their ground and never gave up teaching the truth of the Gospel.

Who Were the Judaizers?

At this time there were essentially three groups of people:

Jews who denied Jesus Christ but who held to the traditional teachings of Judaism
Christians who were a mix of Jews and Gentiles who believed in Jesus Christ
Judaizers who professed Christ but insisted that salvation was only possible through becoming a Jew by keeping the Mosaic law, being circumcised, following the dietary laws, etc. They were not true believers

These Judaizers were the primary source of problems that Paul is referring to. They came in secretly because on the surface they looked like Christians, yet their intention was to bring them into slavery of a system of works-based righteousness.

But Paul, Barnabas and Titus never yielded — they held true to the truth of the Gospel and never wavered. The true Gospel proclaims that salvation is only by God's grace through faith. This will be the focus of the rest of the Book of Galatians, where Paul will expand upon this critical truth.

💬 Discussion Questions

How important was the Gospel to Paul for him to stand fast and not yield to the false teachings of the Judaizers?
What was Paul's intent when he spoke of "preserving" the Gospel?
Is this something that Christians today give as much importance?