2:1 | Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem* again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too. |
2:2 | I went there* because of* a revelation and presented* to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so* only in a private meeting with the influential people,* to make sure that I was not running – or had not run* – in vain. |
2:3 | Yet* not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. |
2:4 | Now this matter arose* because of the false brothers with false pretenses* who slipped in unnoticed to spy on* our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves.* |
2:5 | But* we did not surrender to them* even for a moment,* in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.* |
2:6 | But from those who were influential* (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people*) – those influential leaders* added* nothing to my message.* |
2:7 | On the contrary, when they saw* that I was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised* just as Peter was to the circumcised* |
2:8 | (for he who empowered* Peter for his apostleship* to the circumcised* also empowered me for my apostleship to the Gentiles)* |
2:9 | and when James, Cephas,* and John, who had a reputation as* pillars,* recognized* the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me* the right hand of fellowship, agreeing* that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.* |
2:10 | They requested* only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do. |
2:11 | But when Cephas* came to Antioch,* I opposed him to his face, because he had clearly done wrong.* |
2:12 | Until* certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he stopped doing this* and separated himself* because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision.* |
2:13 | And the rest of the Jews also joined with him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray with them* by their hypocrisy. |
2:14 | But when I saw that they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas* in front of them all, “If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to force* the Gentiles to live like Jews?” |
2:15 | We are Jews by birth* and not Gentile sinners,* |
2:16 | yet we know* that no one* is justified by the works of the law* but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.* And* we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ* and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one* will be justified. |
2:17 | But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages* sin? Absolutely not! |
2:18 | But if I build up again those things I once destroyed,* I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law.* |
2:19 | For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. |
2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ,* and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So* the life I now live in the body,* I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God,* who loved me and gave himself for me. |
2:21 | I do not set aside* God’s grace, because if righteousness* could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!* |