• Galatians 2:12
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 12 πρὸ before τοῦ the γὰρ for ἐλθεῖν to come τινὰς some (ones) ἀπὸ from Ἰακώβου James μετὰ with τῶν the ἐθνῶν nations συνήσθιεν· he was eating together; ὅτε when δὲ but ἦλθον, they came, ὑπέστελλεν he was withdrawing καὶ and ἀφώριζεν was defining off ἑαυτόν, himself, φοβούμενος fearing τοὺς the (ones) ἐκ out of περιτομῆς. circumcision.

  • Galatians 2:12
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 12 For before that certain came from James With them of the nations used he to eat; Whereas when they came He used to withdraw and keep himself separate, Fearing them of the circumcision;

  • Galatians 2:12
    King James Version

    • 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

  • Galatians Study Notes—Chapter 2
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 2:12

      eat with people of the nations: Meals were occasions for fellowship that customarily included prayers, so it is understandable that the Jews generally did not share meals with Gentiles. In fact, the Israelites were commanded never to mingle with the nations that remained in the Promised Land, not even mentioning their gods. (Jos 23:6, 7) By the first century C.E., Jewish religious leaders had added their own restrictions, insisting that entering a Gentile home led to ceremonial uncleanness.​—Joh 18:28.

      he stopped doing this and separated himself: In 36 C.E., Peter, who was a Jewish Christian, used the third of “the keys of the Kingdom” to open up the opportunity for Cornelius and his household to become the first Christians who were not Jews or Jewish proselytes. (See study note on Mt 16:19.) Peter stayed in Cornelius’ home for days, no doubt sharing a number of meals with his Gentile hosts. (Ac 10:48; 11:1-17) He rightly continued the practice of eating with Gentile Christians. However, some 13 years later, while in Syrian Antioch, Peter suddenly “stopped doing this.” He feared the reaction of some Jewish Christians who had come from Jerusalem. These men had come from James, apparently meaning that they had associated with James, who was in Jerusalem. (See study note on Ac 15:13.) These men were slow to accept change and still insisted on strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and certain Jewish customs. (See study note on Ac 10:28.) Peter’s conduct could have undermined a decision that the governing body made in the same year as Peter’s visit, about 49 C.E. That decision had confirmed that Gentile Christians were not required to obey the Mosaic Law. (Ac 15:23-29) Paul here reviews the incident at Antioch, not to embarrass Peter, but to adjust a wrong view held among the Galatians.

      those of the circumcised class: Lit., “the (ones) out of circumcision,” that is, some circumcised Jewish Christians who were visiting from the congregation in Jerusalem. In other occurrences, the same Greek expression is translated “the supporters of circumcision,” “those circumcised,” and “those who adhere to the circumcision.”​—Ac 11:2; Col 4:11; Tit 1:10.