Galatians 2

The Council at Jerusalem

1Then after an interval of fourteen years I 1went up again to Jerusalem with 2Barnabas, taking 3Titus along also. 24It was because of a 5revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the 6gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be 7running, or had run, in vain. 3But not even 8Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was 9compelled to be circumcised. 4But it was because of the 10false brethren secretly brought in, who 11had sneaked in to spy out our 12liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to 13bring us into bondage. 5But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that 14the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6But from those who 15were of high 16reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; 17God 18shows no partiality)--well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. 7But on the contrary, seeing that I had been 19entrusted with the 20gospel 21to the uncircumcised, just as 22Peter had been 23to the circumcised 8(for He who effectually worked for Peter in his 24apostleship 25to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9and recognizing 26the grace that had been given to me, 2728James and 29Cephas and John, who were 30reputed to be 31pillars, gave to me and 32Barnabas the 33right 34hand of fellowship, so that we might 35go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10They only asked us to remember the poor--36the very thing I also was eager to do.

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

11But when 37Cephas came to 38Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he 39stood condemned. 12For prior to the coming of certain men from 4041James, he used to 42eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, 43fearing 44the party of the circumcision. 13The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even 45Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that they 46were not 47straightforward about 48the truth of the gospel, I said to 49Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, 50live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?51

15“We are 52Jews by nature and not 53sinners from among the Gentiles; 16nevertheless knowing that 54a man is not justified by the works of 55the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by 56faith in Christ and not by the works of 57the Law; since 58by the works of 59the Law no 60flesh will be justified. 17But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found 61sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? 62May it never be! 18For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I 63prove myself to be a transgressor. 19For through 64the Law I 65died to 66the Law, so that I might live to God. 20I have been 67crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but 68Christ lives in me; and 69the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in 70the Son of God, who 71loved me and 72gave Himself up for me. 21I do not nullify the grace of God, for 73if righteousness comes through 74the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”