1 T hen, after fourteen years again I went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, having taken with me also Titus;

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

2 a nd I went up by revelation, and did submit to them the good news that I preach among the nations, and privately to those esteemed, lest in vain I might run or did run;

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 b ut not even Titus, who with me, being a Greek, was 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 because of the false brethren brought in unawares, who did come in privily to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus, that us they might bring under 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 not even for an hour we gave place by subjection, that the truth of the good news might remain to 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 A nd from those who were esteemed to be something -- whatever they were then, it maketh no difference to me -- the face of man God accepteth not, for -- to me those esteemed did add 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, having seen that I have been entrusted with the good news of the uncircumcision, as Peter with 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 f or He who did work with Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, did work also in me in regard to the nations,

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

9 a nd having known the grace that was given to me, James, and Cephas, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, a right hand of fellowship they did give to me, and to Barnabas, 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, of the poor that we should be mindful, which also I was diligent -- this very thing -- 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 A nd when Peter came to Antioch, to the face I stood up against him, because he was blameworthy,

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

12 f or before the coming of certain from James, with the nations he was eating, and when they came, he was withdrawing and separating himself, fearing those of the 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 dissemble with him also did the other Jews, so that also Barnabas was carried away 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 are not walking uprightly to the truth of the good news, I said to Peter before all, `If thou, being a Jew, in the manner of the nations dost live, and not in the manner of the Jews, how the nations dost thou compel 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 by nature Jews, and not sinners of the nations,

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

16 h aving known also that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, if not through the faith of Jesus Christ, also we in Christ Jesus did believe, that we might be declared righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by works of law, wherefore declared righteous by works of law shall be no flesh.'

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 A nd if, seeking to be declared righteous in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, then Christ a ministrant of sin? let it not be!

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 threw down, these again I build up, a transgressor I set myself forth;

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, did die, that to God I may live;

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

20 w ith Christ I have been crucified, and live no more do I, and Christ doth live in me; and that which I now live in the flesh -- in the faith I live of the Son of God, who did love me and did give 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 make void the grace of God, for if righteousness through law -- then Christ died in vain.

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.