Galatians 2:12

From James. The most that can safely be inferred concerning these believers who are said to have come from James is that they were members of the Jerusalem church, of which James was the leader. Inasmuch as it is not stated that he sent them, it would be an unwarranted assumption to say they had come with official authorization from James. They apparently represented the circumcision party, and were probably Pharisee Christians (see Acts 15:5). They may have come to Antioch without the approval of James. Certainly they did not have his authorization to stir up trouble, for in his remarks at the council he had given evidence of his sincere desire for harmony among the believers everywhere (Acts 15:13-21).

With the Gentiles. Prior to his vision and the subsequent experience at the home of Cornelius (Acts 10:9-48), Peter would not have associated with Gentiles as he now did at Antioch. His precaution in taking along six witnesses (Acts 11:12) reflects his fear that the brethren in Jerusalem would be hesitant to accept his testimony if it stood alone. But after the unusual demonstration of God’s approval evident in the gift of the Spirit before their baptism, Peter was confident of the acceptance of the Gentiles into the Christian church. This confidence was confirmed by the attitude of the Jerusalem Council several years later (Acts 15). There was no longer room for legitimate doubt on this question. Therefore when Peter went to Antioch he felt free to join his brethren in fellowship with the Gentile believers.

Withdrew and separated. Apparently, Peter quietly discontinued his association with the Gentiles, without explanation. Probably this separation involved no more than a break in social relationships.

Fearing them. In self-defense Peter sought to avoid further conflict with these unreasonable, Judaizing brethren from Jerusalem. It was the same group that had stirred up trouble in Antioch, prior to the council, by insisting on the circumcision of all Gentiles who sought admission to the Christian church (see Acts 15:5). Representatives of this party had also subverted the loyalty of many in the church at Corinth (see on 2 Cor. 11:22). Peter’s fear may have been due, in part at least, to the same spirit of caution that prompted him to take six fellow Jews to the home of Cornelius (Acts 11:12). After all, the Jerusalem Council had not provided that Jews might associate freely with Gentiles (see on Gal. 2:11), and Peter may have feared that these Judaizing brethren would interpret his actions in a way he would find it difficult to explain when he returned to Jerusalem.