For before that certain came from James
The Lord's brother, mentioned before with Cephas and John, who
resided at Jerusalem, from whence these persons came; and who are
said to come from James, because they came from the place and
church where he was, though, it may be, not sent by him, nor with
his knowledge. They were such as professed faith in Christ; they
were "judaizing" Christians believing in Christ, but were zealous
of the law. Now before the coming of these persons to Antioch,
he,
Peter,
did eat with the Gentiles;
which is to be understood, not of eating at the Lord's table with
them, but at their own tables: he knew that the distinction of
meats was now laid aside, and that nothing was common and unclean
of itself, and that every creature of God was good, and not to be
refused if received with thankfulness; wherefore he made use of
his Christian liberty, and ate such food dressed in such manner
as the Gentiles did, without any regard to the laws and
ceremonies of the Jews; and in this he did well, for hereby he
declared his sense of things, that the ceremonial law was
abolished, that not only the Gentiles are not obliged to it, but
even the Jews were freed from it, and that the observance of it
was far from being necessary to salvation: all which agreed with
the preaching and practice of the Apostle Paul, and served
greatly to confirm the same, and for this he was to be commended:
nor is this mentioned by way of blame, but for the sake of what
follows, which was blameworthy:
but when they were come he withdrew and separated
himself;
not from the church, and the communion of it, for then he had
been guilty of schism, but from private conversation with the
Gentiles: he did not visit them in their own houses, and sit down
at table and eat with them, as he was wont to do; which argued
great inconstancy and instability, very unbecoming one that
seemed to be, and was a pillar in the church of God, as well as
much dissimulation, for he knew better than he acted; his conduct
did not agree with the true sentiments of his mind, which he
covered and dissembled; and which must be very staggering to the
believing Gentiles, to see so great a man behave in such a manner
towards them, as if they were persons not fit to converse with,
and as if the observance of Jewish rites and ceremonies was
necessary to salvation. What induced him to take such a step was,
his
fearing them which were of the circumcision:
that is, the circumcised Jews, who professed faith in Christ, and
were just now come from Jerusalem; not that he feared any danger
from them; that they would abuse his person, or take away his
life; but he might either fear he should come under their censure
and reproofs, as he formerly had for going to Cornelius, and
eating with him and his; or lest that they should be offended
with him, and carry back an ill report of him, as not acting up
to his character as an apostle of the circumcision. This led him
into such a conduct; so true is that of the wise man, that "the
fear of man bringeth a snare", ( Proverbs
29:25 ) .