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

¶ Then fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas and took Titus with me also.

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.

But I went up by revelation and communicated unto them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who seemed to be of repute, to not run, or have 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 in spite of the false brethren, who entered secretly 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.

Unto whom we did not submit even for one hour that the truth of the gospel might remain 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 of these who seemed to be of repute, (whatever they were, it makes no matter to me: God does not accept the appearance of men), for those who seemed to be of repute in conference added 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 to the contrary, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter

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

(for he that showed himself forth in Peter for apostleship of the circumcision, the same also showed himself forth in me toward 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 James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand 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 asked that we should remember the poor; the same which I was also diligent to do.

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

¶ But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed.

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 certain ones came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who 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 other Jews dissembled likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their hypocrisy.

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 did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, dost live after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why dost thou compel 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 who are 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.

knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for 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 seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of our sin? No, in no wise.

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 again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a rebel.

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

For through the law I am dead to 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 am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself 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 reject the grace of God, for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.