Study Desk

Then after an interval of fourteen years I ^(C1)went up again to Jerusalem with ^(C2)Barnabas, taking ^(C3)Titus along also.

^(F1)It was because of a ^(C1)revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the ^(C2)gospel 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 ^(C3)running, or had run, in vain.

But not even ^(C1)Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was ^(C2)compelled to be circumcised.

Yet it was a concern because of the ^(C1)false brothers secretly brought in, who ^(C2)had sneaked in to spy on our ^(C3)freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to ^(C4)enslave us.

But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that ^(C1)the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

But from those who ^(F1)were of considerable ^(C1)repute (what they were makes no difference to me; ^(C2)God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me.

But on the contrary, seeing that I had been ^(C1)entrusted with the ^(C2)gospel ^(F1)to the uncircumcised, just as ^(C3)Peter had been ^(F2)to the circumcised

(for He who was at work for Peter in his ^(C1)apostleship ^(F1)to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles),

and recognizing ^(C1)the grace that had been given to me, ^(F1)(C2)James and ^(F2)(C3)Cephas and John, who were ^(C4)reputed to be ^(C5)pillars, gave to me and ^(C6)Barnabas the ^(C7)right ^(F3)hand of fellowship, so that we might ^(C8)go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

They only asked us to remember the poor—^(C1)the very thing I also was eager to do.

But when ^(C1)Cephas came to ^(C2)Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he ^(F1)stood condemned.

For prior to the coming of some men from ^(F1)(C1)James, he used to ^(C2)eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, ^(C3)fearing those from the circumcision.

The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even ^(C1)Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

But when I saw that they ^(C1)were not ^(F1)straightforward about ^(C2)the truth of the gospel, I said to ^(C3)Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, ^(C4)live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?^(F2)

"We are ^(C1)Jews by nature and not ^(C2)sinners from the Gentiles;

nevertheless, knowing that ^(C1)a person is not justified by works of ^(F1)the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by ^(C2)faith in Christ and not by works of ^(F1)the Law; since ^(C3)by works of ^(F1)the Law no ^(F2)flesh will be justified.

"But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found ^(C1)sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? ^(F1)(C2)Far from it!

"For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I ^(C1)prove myself to be a wrongdoer.

"For through ^(F1)the Law I ^(C1)died to ^(F1)the Law, so that I might live for God.

"I have been ^(C1)crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but ^(C2)Christ lives in me; and ^(F1)the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in ^(C3)the Son of God, who ^(C4)loved me and ^(C5)gave Himself up for me.

"I do not nullify the grace of God, for ^(C1)if righteousness comes through ^(F1)the Law, then Christ died needlessly."