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

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

2 G od 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.

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.

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

But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

4 S ome 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.

and that because of the false brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

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

to whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

6 T hose 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.

But from those who were reputed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man's person)-- they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me:

7 A nyway, 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.

but contrariwise, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the gospel of the circumcision

8 F or God helped Peter work with the Jews. He also helped me work with those who are not Jews.

(for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles);

9 J ames 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.

and 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;

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

only they would that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.

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

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned.

12 P eter 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.

For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.

13 T hen 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.

And the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation.

14 W hen 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?”

But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

15 Y ou and I were born Jews. We were not sinners from among the people who are not Jews.

We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

16 E ven 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.

yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

17 A s 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!

But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid.

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

For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor.

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

For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.

20 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.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

21 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.

I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought.