Galatians 2:8

ESV (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),

NIV For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.

NASB (for He who was at work for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles),

CSB since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles.

NLT For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.

KJV For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

NKJV (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),

What does Galatians 2:8 mean?

Paul is writing to Christians in the region of Galatia who happily believed in Jesus and became Christians when he came to them. Later, though, a group called the Judaizers came and insisted that Paul was wrong. This sect said these Gentiles must be circumcised and follow the law of Moses to be truly saved. Paul's stance on this view is clear: these Judaizers are not even Christians themselves, and that the other apostles agree with him. When a person tries to add any other requirement to salvation, they are preaching something false.

Peter and the others have recognized that he, Paul, has been sent by Christ to preach the true gospel message to Gentiles, just as Peter's mission is to take the good news of Jesus to Jewish people, referred to as "the circumcised".

Now Paul points to something essential: The same Jesus is working through Paul in his ministry and working through Peter in his ministry. The only difference is the audience. It's the same Jesus, same message, and same way to be saved—through the grace of God and not human effort.

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Context Summary
Galatians 2:1–10 describes an important meeting in Jerusalem between Paul and the other apostles. Paul is pleased to learn they preach the same gospel of God's grace through faith in Christ that he does. They agree that Gentiles should not be made to follow the law, and they endorse Paul's God-given calling to preach to the Gentiles. Peter, James, and John offer to him and Barnabas, his partner in ministry, the right hand of fellowship, a symbol of their support, approval, and unity with them.

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Chapter Summary
Paul holds a crucial meeting with the other apostles. Do they preach, as he does, that salvation can only be found through faith in Christ and not by following the law? He learns that they do, though ''false brothers'' in their midst are opposed to this gospel of God's grace. After receiving official approval from Peter and the others, Paul later opposes Peter for publicly trying to distance himself from Gentile Christians out of fear of how others might respond. Paul declares that justification comes only through faith in Christ and not by the works of the law.

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