The Council at Jerusalem
(Acts 15:5–21)

1Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, having taken along Titus also. 2Now I went up according to a revelation, and I set before them the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles; but in private to those esteemed, lest somehow I might be running or had run in vain. 3But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised, 4even because of the false brothers introduced stealthily, who came in stealthily to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they will enslave us, 5to whom we did not yield in submission for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you⁺.

6Now of those being esteemed to be something, whatever they were formerly makes no difference to me—God does not accept the face of man—†—for those being esteemed imparted nothing to me. 7But on the contrary, having seen that I have been entrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision just as Peter of the circumcision— 8for the One having worked in Peter for an apostleship of the circumcision worked also in me for the Gentiles—

9and having known the grace having been given to me, James and Cephas† and John, those esteemed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we are unto the Gentiles, but they unto the circumcision, 10only that we should remember the poor, also the same thing that I was eager to do.

Paul Confronts Cephas

11But when Cephas† came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he was standing condemned. 12For before certain ones came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles. But when they came, he was drawing back and was separating himself, fearing those of the circumcision. 13And also the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

14But when I saw that they are not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before all, “If you, being a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how do you compel the Gentiles to Judaize?”†

15We by nature Jews and not “sinners of the Gentiles,” 16are knowing now that a man is not justified by works of the law, except through faith from Jesus Christ.† We also believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith from Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law not any flesh will be justified.

17But if, seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? Never may it be! 18For if I build again these things that I tore down, I prove myself a transgressor.

19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And that which I now live in the flesh, I live in faith of the Son of God, the One having loved me and having given up Himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Footnotes:

6 Or God does not show favoritism
9 That is, Peter; also in verses 11 and 14
11 BYZ and TR Peter; also in verse 14
14 Some translators close this quotation after verse 16 or 21.
16 WH Christ Jesus