1 T hen after a lapse of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with;

Fourteen years later I went again to Jerusalem. This time I took Barnabas. Titus went with us also.

2 a nd I went up according to revelation, and I laid before them the glad tidings which I preach among the nations, but privately to those conspicuous, lest in any way I run or had run in vain;

God showed me in a special way I should go. I spoke to them about the Good News that I preach among the people who are not Jews. First of all, I talked alone to the important church leaders. I wanted them to know what I was preaching. I did not want that which I was doing or would be doing to be wasted.

3 ( but neither was Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, compelled to be circumcised;)

Titus was with me. Even being a Greek, he did not have to go through the religious act of becoming a Jew.

4 a nd on account of the false brethren brought in surreptitiously, who came in surreptitiously to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;

Some men who called themselves Christians asked about this. They got in our meeting without being asked. They came there to find out how free we are who belong to Christ. They tried to get us to be chained to the Law.

5 t o whom we yielded in subjection not even for an hour, that the truth of the glad tidings might remain with you.

But we did not listen to them or do what they wanted us to do so the truth of the Good News might be yours.

6 B ut from those who were conspicuous as being somewhat—whatsoever they were, it makes no difference to me: God does not accept man's person; for to me those who were conspicuous communicated nothing;

Those who seemed to be important church leaders did not help me. They did not teach me anything new. What they were, I do not care. God looks on us all as being the same.

7 b ut, on the contrary, seeing that the glad tidings of the uncircumcision were confided to me, even as to Peter that of the circumcision,

Anyway, they saw how I had been given the work of preaching the Good News to the people who are not Jews, as Peter had been given the work of preaching the Good News to the Jews.

8 ( for he that wrought in Peter for apostleship of the circumcision wrought also in me towards the Gentiles,)

For God helped Peter work with the Jews. He also helped me work with those who are not Jews.

9 a nd recognising the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were conspicuous as being pillars, gave to me and Barnabas right hands of fellowship, that we to the nations, and they to the circumcision;

James and Peter and John were thought of as being the head church leaders. They could see that God’s loving-favor had been given to me. Barnabas and I were joined together with them by shaking hands. Then we were sent off to work with the people who are not Jews. They were to work with the Jews.

10 o nly that we should remember the poor, which same thing also I was diligent to do.

They asked us to do only one thing. We were to remember to help poor people. I think this is important also.

11 B ut when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to face, because he was to be condemned:

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to stand up against him because he was guilty.

12 f or before that certain came from James, he ate with the nations; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those of circumcision;

Peter had been eating with the people who are not Jews. But after some men came who had been with James, he kept away from them. He was afraid of those who believe in the religious act of becoming a Jew.

13 a nd the rest of the Jews also played the same dissembling part with him; so that even Barnabas was carried away too by their dissimulation.

Then the rest of the Jews followed him because they were afraid to do what they knew they should do. Even Barnabas was fooled by those who pretended to be someone they were not.

14 B ut when I saw that they do not walk straightforwardly, according to the truth of the glad tidings, I said to Peter before all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as the nations and not as the Jews, how dost thou compel the nations to Judaize?

When I saw they were not honest about the truth of the Good News, I spoke to Peter in front of them all. I said, “If you are a Jew, but live like the people who are not Jews, why do you make the people who are not Jews live like the Jews?”

15 W e, Jews by nature, and not sinners of nations,

You and I were born Jews. We were not sinners from among the people who are not Jews.

16 b ut knowing that a man is not justified on the principle of works of law but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we also have believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified on the principle of faith of Christ; and not of works of law; because on the principle of works of law no flesh shall be justified.

Even so, we know we cannot become right with God by obeying the Law. A man is made right with God by putting his trust in Jesus Christ. For that reason, we have put our trust in Jesus Christ also. We have been made right with God because of our faith in Christ and not by obeying the Law. No man can be made right with God by obeying the Law.

17 N ow if in seeking to be justified in Christ we also have been found sinners, then Christ minister of sin? Far be the thought.

As we try to become right with God by what Christ has done for us, what if we find we are sinners also? Does that mean Christ makes us sinners? No! Never!

18 F or if the things I have thrown down, these I build again, I constitute myself a transgressor.

But if I work toward being made right with God by keeping the Law, then I make myself a sinner.

19 F or I, through law, have died to law, that I may live to God.

The Law has no power over me. I am dead to the Law. Now I can live for God.

20 I am crucified with Christ, and no longer live, I, but Christ lives in me; but that I now live in flesh, I live by faith, the of the Son of God, who has loved me and given himself for me.

I have been put up on the cross to die with Christ. I no longer live. Christ lives in me. The life I now live in this body, I live by putting my trust in the Son of God. He was the One Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness by law, then Christ has died for nothing.

I say that we are not to put aside the loving-favor of God. If we could be made right with God by keeping the Law, then Christ died for nothing.