Galatians 2:9
What does Galatians 2:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 2:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 2:9 means
James, Cephas, and John—regarded as pillars—perceived the grace given to Paul and extended the right hands of fellowship to him and Barnabas. This was a public sign of partnership and equality, not patronage. They agreed on a practical division: Paul and Barnabas would concentrate on the Gentiles, while they focused on the circumcision. The emphasis on grace shows the basis of recognition was God’s work, not human achievement. This fellowship validates Paul’s mission and assures Gentile believers that their inclusion through faith in Christ is fully accepted at the highest levels of the early church.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949When they saw the grace which was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who had the name of being pillars, gave to me and Barnabas their right hands as friends so that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and having known the grace that was given to me, James, and Cephas, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, a right hand of fellowship they did give to me, and to Barnabas, that we to the nations, and they to the circumcision <FI>may go<Fi> ,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when they had known the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship: that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and recognising the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were conspicuous as being pillars, gave to me and Barnabas [the] right hands of fellowship, that we [should go] to the nations, and they to the circumcision;
Context
After showing that God was at work in both ministries, Paul now reports the formal acknowledgment by the leading apostles. The handshake seals unity and establishes coordinated mission rather than competition. With this affirmation in place, verse 10 mentions a single request regarding care for the poor, which Paul already embraced. The narrative then shifts, in verses 11–14, to a later incident in Antioch where behavior threatened the unity that had been affirmed, prompting Paul’s confrontation with Cephas.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 2:2
And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles but privately before them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain.
- Romans 15:15
But I write the more boldly unto you in some measure, as putting you again in remembrance, because of the grace that was given me of God,
- 1 John 1:3
that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:
- Acts 4:36
And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,
- Acts 15:22
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
- Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.
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