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 somehow 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. 4Yet it was a concern because of the 10false brothers secretly brought in, who 11had sneaked in to spy on our 12freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to 13enslave us. 5But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that 14the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6But from those who 15were of considerable 16repute (what they were makes no difference to me; 17God shows no favoritism)--well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me. 7But on the contrary, seeing that I had been 18entrusted with the 19gospel 20to the uncircumcised, just as 21Peter had been 22to the circumcised 8(for He who was at work for Peter in his 23apostleship 24to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles), 9and recognizing 25the grace that had been given to me, 2627James and 2829Cephas 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 some men from 4041James, he used to 42eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, 43fearing those from the circumcision. 13The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even 44Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that they 45were not 46straightforward about 47the truth of the gospel, I said to 48Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, 49live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?50

15“We are 51Jews by nature and not 52sinners from the Gentiles; 16nevertheless, knowing that 53a person is not justified by works of 54the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by 55faith in Christ and not by works of 56the Law; since 57by works of 58the Law no 59flesh will be justified. 17But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found 60sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? 6162Far from it! 18For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I 63prove myself to be a wrongdoer. 19For through 64the Law I 65died to 66the Law, so that I might live for 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.”