1Thenafter an interval of fourteenyears I 1went up again to Jerusalem with 2Barnabas, taking3Titusalongalso.
2
[a]It was because of a 4revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the 5gospelwhich I preachamong the Gentiles, but I did so in private* to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be 6running, or had run, in vain.
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But not even7Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was 8compelled to be circumcised.
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But it was because of the 9falsebrethrensecretlybrought in, who 10had sneaked in to spy out our 11libertywhich we have in ChristJesus, in order to 12bring us into bondage.
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But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that 13the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
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But from those who [b]were of high14reputation (what they were makesnodifference to me; 15God[c]showsnopartiality )-well, those who were of reputationcontributednothing to me.
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But on the contrary, seeing that I had been 16entrusted with the 17gospel[d]to the uncircumcised, just as 18Peter had been [e]to the circumcised
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(for He who effectuallyworked for Peter in his 19apostleship[f]to the circumcisedeffectuallyworked for me also to the Gentiles ),
9
and recognizing20the grace that had been given to me, [g]21James and 22Cephas and John, who were 23reputed to be 24pillars, gave to me and 25Barnabas the 26righthand of fellowship, so that we might 27go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
10
They only asked us to remember the poor -28the verything I also was eager to do.
Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul
11 But when29Cephascame to 30Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
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For prior to the coming of certainmen from 31James, he used to 32eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and holdhimselfaloof, 33fearing the party of the circumcision.
13
The rest of the Jewsjoined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even34Barnabas was carriedaway by their hypocrisy.
14
But when I saw that they 35were not straightforwardabout36the truth of the gospel, I said to 37Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, 38livelike the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to livelikeJews?
15
"We are 39Jews by nature and not 40sinners from among the Gentiles;
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neverthelessknowing that 41a man is not justified by the works of the Law but throughfaith in ChristJesus, even we have believed in ChristJesus, so that we may be justified by 42faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since43by the works of the Lawno*flesh will be justified.
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"But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found44sinners, is Christthen a minister of sin? 45May it never be!
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"For if I rebuildwhat I have once destroyed, I 46provemyself to be a transgressor.
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"For through the Law I 47died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
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"I have been 48crucified with Christ; and it is nolonger I who live, but 49Christlives in me; and the life which I nowlive in the flesh I live by faith in 50the Son of God, who 51loved me and 52gaveHimself up for me.
21
"I do not nullify the grace of God, for 53ifrighteousness comes through the Law, thenChristdiedneedlessly."