1 T hen after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.

Then after of fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem. with Barnabas, taking Titus along with also.

2 A nd I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.

I went because it was specially and divinely revealed to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. However, privately before those of repute, that I was not running or had not run in vain.

3 Y et not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek.

4 A nd this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),

because of false brethren who had been secretly smuggled in; they had slipped in to spy on our liberty and the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might again bring us into bondage.

5 t o whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

To them we did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth of the Gospel might continue to be for you.

6 B ut from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.

Moreover, by those who were reputed to be something—though what was their individual position and whether they really were of importance or not makes no difference to me; God is not impressed with the positions that men hold and He is not partial and recognizes no external distinctions—those who were of repute imposed no new requirements upon me.

7 B ut on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter

But on the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted the Gospel to the uncircumcised as Peter had been entrusted the Gospel to the circumcised;

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

For He Who motivated and fitted Peter and worked effectively through him for the mission to the circumcised, motivated and fitted me and worked through me also for the Gentiles.

9 a nd when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

And when they knew (perceived, recognized, understood, and acknowledged) the grace (God’s unmerited favor and spiritual blessing) that had been bestowed upon me, James and Cephas (Peter) and John, who were reputed to be pillars of the Jerusalem church, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, with the understanding that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised (Jews).

10 T hey desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. No Return to the Law

They only, that we were to remember the poor, which very thing I was also eager to do.

11 N ow when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;

But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I protested and opposed him to his face, for he was blameable and stood condemned.

12 f or before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

For up to the time that certain persons came from James, he ate his meals with the Gentile; but when the men arrived, he withdrew and held himself aloof from the Gentiles and separately for fear of those of the circumcision.

13 A nd the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

And the rest of the Jews along with him also concealed their true convictions and acted insincerely, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy (their example of insincerity and pretense).

14 B ut when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

But as soon as I saw that they were not straightforward and were not living up to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) before everybody present, If you, though born a Jew, can live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how do you dare now to urge and practically force the Gentiles to live like Jews?

15 W e who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

Although we ourselves (you and I) are Jews by birth and not Gentile (heathen) sinners,

16 k nowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Yet we know that a man is justified or reckoned righteous and in right standing with God not by works of the Law, but through faith and reliance on and adherence to and trust in Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). even we have believed on Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law, because by keeping legal rituals and by works no human being can ever be justified (declared righteous and put in right standing with God).

17 “ But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!

But if, in our desire and endeavor to be justified in Christ, we have shown ourselves sinners also and convicted of sin, does that make Christ a minister (a party and contributor) to our sin? Banish the thought!

18 F or if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

For if I build up again what I tore down, I prove myself a transgressor.

19 F or I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.

For I through the Law have myself died to the Law and all the Law’s demands upon me, so that I may live to and for God.

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain.