Gal. 2:1-5  "Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."

In the above, Paul is beginning to recount the events leading up to and including the counsel that was held at Jerusalem concerning the false teaching that in order for the Gentiles to be saved, they must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses.   

In Acts chapter 15 we read: Acts 15:1 "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question."  

Paul and Barnabas knew this teaching was wrong from the first time they heard it.  They had much dissension and disputation against the false teachers who were bringing in this damnable heresy.  Antioch, the church where Paul and Barnabas were members, consisted of both Jews and Gentiles.  The Jews of that time were circumcised under the Law of Moses prior to coming to the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Gentiles, however, had not been circumcised.  These false teachers were trying to compel the Gentiles to come under the bondage of the Old Covenant of worship given to the Israelites on Mount Sinai.  

The church at Antioch sent Paul, Barnabas, and certain others up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders to determine the validity of this teaching that was new to them. 

"And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain." 

Paul wanted the brethren in Jerusalem to know exactly what he had been preaching.  It wanted them to understand that he had been preaching the gospel of the grace of Christ unto the Gentiles.  Further, he wanted them to understand that he considered the doctrine that you must be circumcised to be contrary to the doctrine of the grace of Christ.  Paul taught these things both publicly and privately as the occasion required.  There should be no doubt that the question that came before the counsel of the apostles and elders at Jerusalem was clearly articulated to the apostles and elders so that they would know exactly what was at issue.  Paul is clearly showing to the brethren of the churches of Galatia that this question of circumcision had already been settled by the counsel of Jerusalem.  

The counsel at Jerusalem rendered this finding by letter to the church at Antioch: Acts 15:23-29 "And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well."   

The counsel of apostles and elders at Jerusalem had refuted the grace, but circumcision doctrine.  Salvation from sin is by grace alone. 

"But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."  The false teachers had insisted that Titus, who was a Greek, had to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses.  Paul and the brethren with him refused to have Titus circumcised.  They knew that to circumcise Titus would bring them into the bondage of the law service from which Christ had delivered them.  This refusal was an example unto all that would be inclined to hold to a grace, but doctrine. 

Paul knew that to compromise would destroy the utility of the very gospel of the grace of Christ, which he knew to be the truth.  He refused to compromise.

Some would say that this is not consistent with the fact that Paul had Timothy circumcised.  However, Timothy's father was a Greek, but his mother was a Jew.  Timothy could have a labor with both Jews and Gentiles.  He, being a blood Jew, could preach the gospel to Jews and perhaps convert them to the truth.  However, if Timothy was not circumcised then the Jews would not have listened to him.  Therefore, Timothy's circumcision was one of convenience, enabling him to preach among the yet non-converted Jews, and not of compelling him to come under the Law of Moses.

Gal. 2:6-10  "But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: 7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do."         

"But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me."  Appearances are often deceiving, especially if the appearance is being judged after the flesh.  The Lord said: Luke 16:15 "And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."  The Lord looks on man's heart and not on his appearance.  God accepts no man's person.  There were those that Paul conferred with in conference who seemed to be somewhat.  They had an appearance of being somewhat.           

Sometimes false doctrines, false teachings, and false practices are brought in by those who "seem to be somewhat."  We are not to accept the person of a man, but what does he teach and what does he stand for and how does he conduct his life.  There were those who brought in damnable heresies, but what they taught did not agree with "thus saith the Lord."  If it does not agree with the word of God, then what is said adds nothing to the child of God.  When men preach the truth in power and demonstration of Spirit and I rejoice in a Savior's love this adds much joy to me.  When men are given an understanding of scripture and through their teachings, I learn more about the scriptures, this adds to me.  Those, who were highly esteemed among men or who seemed to be somewhat, Paul says they added nothing to him.          

What is important is not the appearance, or eloquence, or popularity of a man, but what does he preach and teach?           

"But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)"  Unlike these who seemed somewhat in conference, Paul demonstrated by his teachings that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto him.  It was manifest through the preaching and teaching of the apostle Paul that the Spirit was working effectually and mightily in him toward the Gentiles.  This was just as manifest as the manifestation of the Spirit working effectually and mightily in Peter to preach the gospel unto the circumcision.  The Spirit determines where and to whom the gospel is to be preached and who is to preach it unto them.  The Holy Spirit made Peter the apostle to the Jews and the Holy Spirit made Paul the apostle to the Gentiles.            

"And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."  The only way to perceive that someone is a pillar in the church is to see their demonstrated knowledge and practice in the church.  This is how Paul perceived that James, Cephas, and John were pillars in the church at Jerusalem.          

These pillars in the church perceived the grace of God given unto Paul to preach the gospel of the grace of Christ unto the Gentiles.  Consequently, and consistent with their on beliefs, they gave unto right hand of fellowship that they should go unto the heathen and they unto the circumcision.  Now the right hand of fellowship indicates agreement.  By writing this to the brethren of the churches of Galatia, Paul is stating that James, Cephas, and John were in complete harmony with Paul and Barnabas that the true gospel is the gospel of the grace of Christ and not the grace, but doctrine.        

"Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do."  James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."  The truth should be accompanied by pure religion.  Pure religion adorns the gospel of the grace of Christ.  We love God because he first loved us.  By remembering the poor and visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction and by keeping oneself unspotted from the world, we are giving praise and glory unto the one who has redeemed us by his grace. 

Gal. 2:11-14  "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 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. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?"         

The problem here is not that Peter did not know that the Gentiles were justified by the blood of Christ and were therefore clean.  God had showed Peter that in the 10^th chapter of Acts:

Acts 10:9 "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven."           

At the house of Cornelius Peter said: 28 "And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean."  Also, 34 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."           

The problem is that Peter succumbed to peer pressure.  As long as it was just the Gentiles and the Jews that were with Peter, Peter had no problem eating pork and catfish with them.  However, when the "highly esteemed" Jews came around, Peter withdrew and separated himself, fearing them of the circumcision.  The truth stands regardless of what peer pressure we may face.  We are not to compromise the truth in the face of peer pressure.          

When a leader acts inappropriately, others are often led to acts inappropriately as well: "And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation."  Now, Peter's inappropriate action did not excuse the inappropriate action of the others, yet his actions put doubt in the minds of the others and they withdrew.         

"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?"  Peter had no problem living after the manner of the Gentiles so long as the "esteemed Jews" were not around.  However, when the "esteemed Jews" came around, he wanted the Gentiles to live after the manner of the Jews.  For this, Paul rebuked Peter to his face.  We cannot have it both ways.           

True worship today is under the covenant of grace and not under the covenant of the law.  To try to compel people to worship under the "grace, but" doctrine is to try to bring them into the bondage to the law.  The "grace of Christ" gospel has never been popular.  Peer-pressure often is exerted to try to keep people from worshipping under the true gospel of the grace of Christ.  We are not to succumb to peer-pressure, but we are to worship God in Spirit and in truth.  One of the problems that the brethren in the churches of Galatia were faced with was peer-pressure to hold to the false teachings to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses.