THEN
fourteen years after I went
up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2 And I
went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach
among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by
any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
3 But
neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be
circumcised:
4 And that because of false brethren
unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have
in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
5 To whom
we gave place by subjection to, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the
gospel might continue with you.
6 But of these who seemed to
be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepted no man's person:) for they
who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
7 But contrariwise, when they
saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the
gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought
effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was
mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9 And when James, Cephas, and
John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me,
they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go
unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10 Only they would that we
should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
11 But when Peter was come to
Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came
from James, he did eat with the Gentiles:
but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing
them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews
dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away
with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they
walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter
before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles,
and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the
Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature,
and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we
have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of
Christ, and not be the works of the law:
for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be
justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ
the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the
things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am
dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me.
22 I do not frustrate the grace
of God: for if righteousness come by
the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
