The Darby Translation DBY
New Century Version NCV
1 Then after a lapse of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with [me];
1
After fourteen years I went to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas. I also took Titus with me.
2 and I went up according to revelation, and I laid before them the glad tidings which I preach among the nations, but privately to those conspicuous [among them], lest in any way I run or had run in vain;
2
I went because God showed me I should go. I met with the believers there, and in private I told their leaders the Good News that I preach to the non-Jewish people. I did not want my past work and the work I am now doing to be wasted.
3 (but neither was Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, compelled to be circumcised;)
3
Titus was with me, but he was not forced to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
4 and [it was] on account of the false brethren brought in surreptitiously, who came in surreptitiously to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;
4
We talked about this problem because some false believers had come into our group secretly. They came in like spies to overturn the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to make us slaves.
5 to whom we yielded in subjection not even for an hour, that the truth of the glad tidings might remain with you.
5
But we did not give in to those false believers for a minute. We wanted the truth of the Good News to continue for you.
6 But from those who were conspicuous as being somewhat -- whatsoever they were, it makes no difference to me: God does not accept man's person; for to me those who were conspicuous communicated nothing;
6
Those leaders who seemed to be important did not change the Good News that I preach. (It doesn't matter to me if they were "important" or not. To God everyone is the same.)
7 but, on the contrary, seeing that the glad tidings of the uncircumcision were confided to me, even as to Peter that of the circumcision,
7
But these leaders saw that I had been given the work of telling the Good News to those who are not Jewish, just as Peter had the work of telling the Jews.
8 (for he that wrought in Peter for [the] apostleship of the circumcision wrought also in me towards the Gentiles,)
8
God gave Peter the power to work as an apostle for the Jewish people. But he also gave me the power to work as an apostle for those who are not Jews.
9 and recognising the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were conspicuous as being pillars, gave to me and Barnabas [the] right hands of fellowship, that *we* [should go] to the nations, and *they* to the circumcision;
9
James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be the leaders, understood that God had given me this special grace, so they accepted Barnabas and me. They agreed that they would go to the Jewish people and that we should go to those who are not Jewish.
10 only that we should remember the poor, which same thing also I was diligent to do.
10
The only thing they asked us was to remember to help the poor -- something I really wanted to do.
11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to [the] face, because he was to be condemned:
11
When Peter came to Antioch, I challenged him to his face, because he was wrong.
12 for before that certain came from James, he ate with [those of] the nations; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those of [the] circumcision;
12
Peter ate with the non-Jewish people until some Jewish people sent from James came to Antioch. When they arrived, Peter stopped eating with those who weren't Jewish, and he separated himself from them. He was afraid of the Jews.
13 and the rest of the Jews also played the same dissembling part with him; so that even Barnabas was carried away too by their dissimulation.
13
So Peter was a hypocrite, as were the other Jewish believers who joined with him. Even Barnabas was influenced by what these Jewish believers did.
14 But when I saw that they do not walk straightforwardly, according to the truth of the glad tidings, I said to Peter before all, If *thou*, being a Jew, livest as the nations and not as the Jews, how dost thou compel the nations to Judaize?
14
When I saw they were not following the truth of the Good News, I spoke to Peter in front of them all. I said, "Peter, you are a Jew, but you are not living like a Jew. You are living like those who are not Jewish. So why do you now try to force those who are not Jewish to live like Jews?"
15 We, Jews by nature, and not sinners of [the] nations,
15
We were not born as non-Jewish "sinners," but as Jews.
16 but knowing that a man is not justified on the principle of works of law [nor] but by the faith of Jesus Christ, *we* also have believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified on the principle of [the] faith of Christ; and not of works of law; because on the principle of works of law no flesh shall be justified.
16
Yet we know that a person is made right with God not by following the law, but by trusting in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus, that we might be made right with God because we trusted in Christ. It is not because we followed the law, because no one can be made right with God by following the law.
17 Now if in seeking to be justified in Christ we also have been found sinners, then [is] Christ minister of sin? Far be the thought.
17
We Jews came to Christ, trying to be made right with God, and it became clear that we are sinners, too. Does this mean that Christ encourages sin? No!
18 For if the things I have thrown down, these I build again, I constitute myself a transgressor.
18
But I would really be wrong to begin teaching again those things that I gave up.
19 For *I*, through law, have died to law, that I may live to God.
19
It was the law that put me to death, and I died to the law so that I can now live for God.
20 I am crucified with Christ, and no longer live, *I*, but Christ lives in me; but [in] that I now live in flesh, I live by faith, the [faith] of the Son of God, who has loved me and given himself for me.
20
I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore -- it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me.
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness [is] by law, then Christ has died for nothing.
21
By saying these things I am not going against God's grace. Just the opposite, if the law could make us right with God, then Christ's death would be useless.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.