A close reading of Acts 13-14 fits like a hand in a glove with Galatians. In this letter, we get a window into what was happening in these churches. Specifically, we discover Judaizers (i.e. a hybrid of Jewish-Christian teachers) who were infiltrating the church, and spreading false teaching about legalism through the church.
(Gal. 1:6-7) “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; there are some who are disturbing [tarassō] you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
This passage teaches three things. First, the members of the church in Galatia were abandoning the gospel. Second, there were false teachers coming into the church, who were motivating the members to do this. Third, this had happened “quickly” after Paul left. The word for “disturbing” (tarassō) is the same term used of the false teachers coming from James’ church: “We have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed (tarassō) you with their words, unsettling your souls” (Acts 15:24). In both cases, these false teachers came from James’ church—even though he didn’t agree with them (Acts 15:24; Gal. 2:12).
(2:4 NIV) “This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.”
The NASB/NLT say that these false believers were brought into the church. These false believers must’ve been pretending to be believers, but in reality, they were spreading false doctrine.
(2:14) “When I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?’”
This is where we get the term “Judaizer.” Paul uses the verbal form of the word “Judaizer” in this verse (Greek Ioudaizein, “live like Jews”). Peter was falling prey to this temptation to “Judaize” Gentile converts.
(3:1) “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you…?”
The false teachers had entered into this church, deceiving the Christians. Absolute horror fills Paul’s words. He was just with them, and they were just recently liberated by the grace of God. But now? They have been “bewitched”! Paul wants them to realize that there are false teachers, and he wants them to learn discernment in being able to spot them.
(4:10 NLT) “You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.”
The false teachers were spreading Jewish formalism, trying to get these new believers to obey holy days.
(Gal. 5:2-3; 8) “Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law… 8This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.”
The false teachers were preaching circumcision for the purpose of sanctification. Paul says that these men were using “persuasion” to steer people away from the gospel. We can piece together their arguments by reading Paul’s letter.
While this Jewish formalism and legalism was clearly unbiblical, we need to sympathize with their thinking. Many of these traditions had been held as sacred for over 1,500 years![] It must have been difficult for them to drop these overnight for God’s new and fulfilled work in the Cross. By appealing to tradition, these Judaizers must have been persuasive when arguing for formalism and legalism.
(6:12) Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
There was apparently a deep desire to conform to the established legal religion of Judaism. Since Christians were taking a radical divergence from Judaism in the new covenant, persecution quickly followed.
James is an elder at Dwell Community Church, where he teaches classes in theology, apologetics, and weekly Bible studies.
