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

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

It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might 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, though he was 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.

But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to 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.

But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would 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 from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed 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 on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised

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

(for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to 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 recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

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

They only asked us to remember the poor— the very thing I also was eager to do. Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

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 opposed him to his 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 prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party 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.

The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by 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 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?

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

“We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among 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.

nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will 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 seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!

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 rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.

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 died to the Law, so that I might live to 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 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 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 nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”