Paul Defends His Gospel at Jerusalem

1Then after 14 years I went up againa to Jerusalem with Barnabas,b taking Titusc along also. 2I went up according to a revelationd and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles — but privately to those recognized as leaders — so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain. 3But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4This issue arose because of false brotherse smuggled in, who came in secretly to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. 5But we did not give up and submit to these people for even an hour, so that the truthf of the gospel would be preserved for you.

6Now from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritismg, h) — they added nothing to me. 7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised,i just as Peterj was for the circumcised, 8since the One at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9When James,k •Cephas,l, m and John,n recognized as pillars,o acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10They asked only that we would remember the poor,p which I made every effort to do.

Freedom from the Law

11But when Cephasq came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.r 12For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13Then the rest of the Jewss joined his hypocrisy,t so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephasu in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentilev and not like a Jew,w how can you compel Gentiles to livex like Jews? ”y

15We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” 16know that no one is •justified by the works of the lawz but by faith in Jesus Christ.aa And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christab and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being willac be justified. 17But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ,ad is Christ then a promoterae, af of sin? Absolutely not!ag 18If I rebuildah the systemai I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.aj 19For through the law I have died to the law,ak so that I might live for God.al I have been crucified with Christam 20and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.an The life I now live in the body,ao I live by faith in the Son of God,ap who lovedaq mear and gave Himselfas for me.at 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law,au then Christ diedav for nothing.