1 Then, fourteen years later, I went up to Jerusalem once more with Barnabas, and took Titus along as well.
2 I went up because of a revelation, and I laid before them the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, though privately, before those of repute, for fear that I might somehow be running, or had run, to no purpose.
3 But not even Titus, my companion, being a Greek, was compelled to undergo circumcision.
4 And this was because of false brothers smuggled in, who had slipped in to spy on our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us;
5 to them we did not give way in submission, not even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would continue with you.
6 But as for those reputed to be something (whatever they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality to a man), those of repute, I say, added nothing to me.
7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcision, as Peter had been with that to the circumcision
8 (for the one who was at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcision was at work in me as well for the Gentiles),
9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcision.
10 Only, they asked that we keep the poor in mind, which was the very thing I was eager to do.
11 Now when Peter came to Antioch, I stood against him face to face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before some came from James, he was eating together with the Gentiles; but when they came, he was drawing back and setting himself apart, fearing those of the circumcision.
13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite along with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that they were not walking uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of the Gentiles and not in the manner of the Jews, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as Jews?
15 We, Jews by nature and not sinners from the Gentiles,
16 knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law; for by works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also are found to be sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? Not at all!
18 For if I build up again the things I tore down, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law died to the law, so that I might live to God.
20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I live—no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
21 I am not setting aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes by way of the law, then Christ died needlessly."