Then after 14 years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus with me also.
I went up by revelation and set before them the good news that I was preaching among the Gentiles; but privately before those who were held in high regard to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain.
But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
And that issue came up because of the false brothers who were secretly brought in, who came in secretly to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus so that they could bring us into slavery.
We did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the good news could continue with you.
But from those who were held in high regard (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me, God does not show personal favoritism)—well, those held in high regard added nothing to my message,
but on the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the good news to the uncircumcision, just as Peter had been with the good news to the circumcision
(for the one who was at work in Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcision was at work in me also for my apostolic ministry to the Gentiles),
and when James and Cephas and John—those who were held in high regard as pillars—recognized the grace that was given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcision.
They only desired that we would continue to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.
Paul Opposes Peter
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he was completely wrong.
For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, being afraid of those who were of the circumcision.
And the rest of the Jews joined with him in hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
But when I saw that they were not walking uprightly according to the truth of the good news, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Justified by Faith
We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,”
knowing that a person is not declared righteous by the works of the law but through trust in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus so that we are declared righteous by trust in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no flesh will be declared righteous.
But if, while seeking to be declared righteous in Christ, we Jews are ourselves also found to be sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Absolutely not!
For if I build again those things that I tore down, I demonstrate that I am a transgressor.
For through law I died to law, in order that I could live for God.
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me! And the life that I am now living in the flesh, I am living by trust in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.
I do not reject the grace of God, for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing.