ENTRUSTED WITH THE TASK OF PREACHING

Passage: Galatians 2:1-10

Key verse: 7

NIV

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

2 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,(A) this time with Barnabas.(B) I took Titus(C) along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation(D) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.(E) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race(F) in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus,(G) who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.(H) 4 This matter arose because some false believers(I) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on(J) the freedom(K) we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel(L) might be preserved for you.

6 As for those who were held in high esteem(M)—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism(N)—they added nothing to my message.(O) 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task(P) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,[a](Q) just as Peter(R) had been to the circumcised.[b] 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle(S) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle(T) to the Gentiles. 9 James,(U) Cephas[c](V) and John, those esteemed as pillars,(W) gave me and Barnabas(X) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.(Y) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,(Z) and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor,(AA) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Galatians 2:7 That is, Gentiles
  2. Galatians 2:7 That is, Jews; also in verses 8 and 9
  3. Galatians 2:9 That is, Peter; also in verses 11 and 14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those (A)who seemed influential) the gospel that (B)I proclaim among the Gentiles, (C)in order to make sure I was not running or had not (D)run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, (E)was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 (F)Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who (G)slipped in to spy out (H)our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, (I)so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that (J)the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those (K)who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; (L)God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential (M)added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been (N)entrusted with (O)the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, (P)who seemed to be (Q)pillars, perceived the (R)grace that was given to me, they (S)gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, (T)the very thing I was eager to do.

Read full chapter
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Several years after his first visit, Paul returned to Jerusalem, this time, with Barnabas and Titus. He went in response to a revelation he received to speak with the leaders of the church to set before them the gospel he preached. During their journey, Paul and his companions met false believers who tried to influence Titus, a Gentile believer, to be circumcised. But neither he nor Paul gave into them so that the truth of the gospel might remain. Paul wholeheartedly believed in the power of the gospel and the finished work of the cross to bring salvation to all men.

Paul did not idolize the church leaders in Jerusalem. As pastors, shepherds, and leaders, we must not worry about our appearance, titles, or success. What Paul cared about was that the pure gospel was preached for salvation. James, Peter, and John added nothing to his message, and they accepted Paul and Barnabas as they recognized the grace given them to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. While God was at work in Peter’s ministry to the Jews, God was at work in Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. What is your call before God? We need not compare ourselves to anyone, but humbly commit ourselves the very responsibility entrusted to us by God in faith.

Prayer: Father, thank you so much for calling me out of darkness into your marvelous light and entrusting me with the gospel. Raise bold witnesses to preach your word to the nations.

One Word: Preach the gospel!