2 14 years later, I went to Jerusalem again. This time I went with Barnabas, and I also took Titus with me. 2 I went there because God had shown me that I should go. I talked to the Christian leaders there. I explained to them the good news that I teach to the Gentiles. But I talked only to those men who seemed to be the leaders. I wanted to be sure that they agreed with the message that I taught. I did not want my work, both in past times and now, to be worth nothing. 3 Titus was with me then. He is a Greek person and nobody had circumcised him. But the leaders in Jerusalem did not say that we must circumcise him. [ a ]
4 But some men did want us to obey all the Jewish rules. Those men came secretly among our group. They said that they were believers, but they were not really true believers. They wanted to see how we lived as believers. They wanted to know how Christ Jesus has made us free from the Jewish rules. They wanted to make us slaves to those rules. 5 But we did not allow them to do this to us. They wanted to spoil the true good news that you have believed. We kept the good news safe for you.
6 The church leaders in Jerusalem did not argue with me. (They were the people who seemed to be the leaders. It does not matter to me whether they were really important people or not. God does not respect some people more than others.) Those leaders did not tell me to change the message that I teach. 7 Instead they saw that God had given a special job to me. God wanted me to tell the good news about Christ to the Gentiles. In the same way, he had told Peter to tell the good news to the Jews. 8 God gave Peter the authority to be his apostle to the Jews. God also gave me the authority to be his apostle to the Gentiles.
9 James, Peter and John understood that God had given this special job to me. They are the leaders that the church in Jerusalem respects. And they were happy to accept Barnabas and me as their friends. They agreed that we should teach God's message to the Gentiles. They themselves would continue to teach the Jews. 10 They only asked us to do this: We should remember to help the poor people among their group. That is something that I myself wanted very much to do.
11 But later, when Peter came to Antioch, I spoke against him. I told him clearly that he had done something wrong. 12 When he first arrived in Antioch, Peter had been eating meals with the Gentile believers there. Then James sent some Jewish believers from Jerusalem to Antioch. After those men had arrived, Peter started to keep himself separate from the Gentiles. He stopped eating meals with them. He was afraid of those Jews who wanted to circumcise the Gentile believers. 13 The other Jewish believers in Antioch also did what Peter did. They became hypocrites like him. Even Barnabas agreed and he copied their example.
14 But I could see that they were wrong to do this. They were not living in a way that agrees with God's true message. So I spoke to Peter in front of all of them. I said to him, ‘You were born as a Jew, but you have been living like a Gentile. As a believer, you no longer obey all the Jewish rules. So you should not try to make Gentile believers obey those Jewish rules.’
15 We were born as Jewish people. We are not Gentiles who have never obeyed God's rules. 16 But we know that we do not become right with God because we obey his Law. A person only becomes right with God when they believe in Jesus Christ. And we, as Jewish believers, have believed in Christ Jesus. We have become right with God because we trust in what Christ has done. It is not because we obey God's Law that he accepts us. Nobody becomes right with God only because they obey the rules in God's Law.
17 So then, we Jews become right with God when we believe in Christ. That means that we no longer obey all the Jewish rules. But that does not mean that Christ causes us to do wrong things. Certainly, it does not mean that! 18 Instead, I would really be doing something wrong if I tried to obey all those rules again. I would be building again something that I had destroyed. That would really be against God's Law. 19 But God's Law showed me that I could never obey all its rules. So I became like a dead person, free from the authority of those rules. That means that I can now live to please God. [ b ]
20 Christ died on the cross on my behalf. It is like I died there with him. So I do not live my own life any more. Instead, Christ lives in me. The life that I live now in my body, I live because I trust what he has done for me. He has loved me so much that he died on my behalf. 21 So I do not refuse to accept the kind gift of God. If the rules of God's Law could make me right with him, then Christ would have died for no reason!
2 After 14 years I went back to Jerusalem with Barnabas and took Titus with me. 2 I went there because God showed me that I should go. I explained to them the message that I tell the non-Jewish people. I also met alone with those who were considered to be the leaders. I wanted to be sure we were in agreement so that my past work and the work I do now would not be wasted.
3 Titus, who was with me, is a Greek. But these leaders still did not force him to be circumcised. 4 We needed to talk about these problems, because some who pretended to be our brothers had come into our group secretly. They came in like spies to find out about the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to make us slaves, 5 but we did not agree with anything those false brothers wanted. We wanted the truth of the Good News to continue for you.
6 Those men who were considered to be important did not change the Good News message I tell people. (It doesn’t matter to me if they were “important” or not. To God everyone is the same.) 7 But these leaders saw that God had given me a special work, the same as Peter. God gave Peter the work of telling the Good News to the Jews. But God gave me the work of telling the Good News to the non-Jewish people. 8 God gave Peter the power to work as an apostle for the Jewish people. God gave me the power to work as an apostle too, but for those who are not Jews. 9 James, Peter, and John seemed to be the leaders. And they saw that God had given me this special gift of ministry, so they accepted Barnabas and me. They said to us, “We agree that you should go to those who are not Jews, and we will go to the Jews.” 10 They asked us to do only one thing—to remember to help those who are poor. And this was something that I really wanted to do.
11 When Peter came to Antioch, he did something that was not right. I stood against him, because he was wrong. 12 This is what happened: When Peter first came to Antioch, he ate and associated with the non-Jewish people. But when some Jewish men came from James, Peter separated himself from the non-Jews. He stopped eating with them, because he was afraid of the Jews who believe that all non-Jewish people must be circumcised. 13 So Peter was a hypocrite. The other Jewish believers joined with him, so they were hypocrites too. Even Barnabas was influenced by what these Jewish believers did. 14 They were not following the truth of the Good News. When I saw this, I spoke to Peter in front of everyone. I said, “Peter, you are a Jew, but you don’t live like one. You live like someone who is not a Jew. So why are you trying to force those who are not Jewish to live like Jews?”
15 We are Jews by birth. We were not born “sinners,” as we call those who are not Jews. 16 But we know that no one is made right with God by following the law. It is trusting in [ a ] Jesus Christ that makes a person right with God. So we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, because we wanted to be made right with God. And we are right with him because we trusted in [ b ] Christ—not because we followed the law. I can say this because no one can be made right with God by following the law.
17 We Jews came to Christ to be made right with God, so it is clear that we were sinners too. Does this mean that Christ makes us sinners? Of course not. 18 But I would be wrong to begin teaching again those things that I gave up. 19 It was the law itself that caused me to end my life under the law. I died to the law so that I could live for God. I have been nailed to the cross with Christ. 20 So I am not the one living now—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in [ c ] the Son of God. He is the one who loved me and gave himself to save me. 21 I am not the one destroying the meaning of God’s grace. If following the law is how people are made right with God, then Christ did not have to die.
2 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
4 And that because of false brethren unawares 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 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9 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 hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 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 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth 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 do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
2 Then after an interval of fourteen years I ( A ) went up again to Jerusalem with ( B ) Barnabas, taking ( C ) Titus along also. 2 [ a ] It was because of a ( D ) revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the ( E ) gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that somehow I might be ( F ) running, or had run, in vain. 3 But not even ( G ) Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was ( H ) compelled to be circumcised. 4 Yet it was a concern because of the ( I ) false brothers secretly brought in, who ( J ) had sneaked in to spy on our ( K ) freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to ( L ) enslave us. 5 But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that ( M ) the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6 But from those who [ b ] were of considerable ( N ) repute (what they were makes no difference to me; ( O ) God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been ( P ) entrusted with the ( Q ) gospel [ c ] to the uncircumcised, just as ( R ) Peter had been [ d ] to the circumcised 8 (for He who was at work for Peter in his ( S ) apostleship [ e ] to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles), 9 and recognizing ( T ) the grace that had been given to me, [ f ] ( U ) James and [ g ] ( V ) Cephas and John, who were ( W ) reputed to be ( X ) pillars, gave to me and ( Y ) Barnabas the ( Z ) right [ h ] hand of fellowship, so that we might ( AA ) go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor— ( AB ) the very thing I also was eager to do.
11 But when ( AC ) Cephas came to ( AD ) Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he [ i ] stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of some men from [ j ] ( AE ) James, he used to ( AF ) eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, ( AG ) fearing those from the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even ( AH ) Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they ( AI ) were not [ k ] straightforward about ( AJ ) the truth of the gospel, I said to ( AK ) Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, ( AL ) live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? [ l ]
15 “We are ( AM ) Jews by nature and not ( AN ) sinners from the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless, knowing that ( AO ) a person is not justified by works of [ m ] the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by ( AP ) faith in Christ and not by works of [ n ] the Law; since ( AQ ) by works of [ o ] the Law no [ p ] flesh will be justified. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found ( AR ) sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? [ q ] ( AS ) Far from it! 18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I ( AT ) prove myself to be a wrongdoer. 19 For through [ r ] the Law I ( AU ) died to [ s ] the Law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been ( AV ) crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but ( AW ) Christ lives in me; and [ t ] the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in ( AX ) the Son of God, who ( AY ) loved me and ( AZ ) gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for ( BA ) if righteousness comes through [ u ] the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
2 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, ( A ) this time with Barnabas. ( B ) I took Titus ( C ) along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation ( D ) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. ( E ) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race ( F ) in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, ( G ) who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. ( H ) 4 This matter arose because some false believers ( I ) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on ( J ) the freedom ( K ) we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel ( L ) might be preserved for you.
6 As for those who were held in high esteem ( M ) —whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism ( N ) —they added nothing to my message. ( O ) 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task ( P ) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, [ a ] ( Q ) just as Peter ( R ) had been to the circumcised. [ b ] 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle ( S ) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle ( T ) to the Gentiles. 9 James, ( U ) Cephas [ c ] ( V ) and John, those esteemed as pillars, ( W ) gave me and Barnabas ( X ) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. ( Y ) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, ( Z ) and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, ( AA ) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
11 When Cephas ( AB ) came to Antioch, ( AC ) I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, ( AD ) he used to eat with the Gentiles. ( AE ) But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. ( AF ) 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas ( AG ) was led astray.
14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, ( AH ) I said to Cephas ( AI ) in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. ( AJ ) How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? ( AK )
15 “We who are Jews by birth ( AL ) and not sinful Gentiles ( AM ) 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, ( AN ) but by faith in Jesus Christ. ( AO ) So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in [ d ] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. ( AP )
17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, ( AQ ) doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! ( AR ) 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
19 “For through the law I died to the law ( AS ) so that I might live for God. ( AT ) 20 I have been crucified with Christ ( AU ) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. ( AV ) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, ( AW ) who loved me ( AX ) and gave himself for me. ( AY ) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, ( AZ ) Christ died for nothing!” [ e ]
