18 Then (A)after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James (B)the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, (C)before God, I do not lie!) 21 (D)Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to (E)the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those (F)who seemed influential) the gospel that (G)I proclaim among the Gentiles, (H)in order to make sure I was not running or had not (I)run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, (J)was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. (K)Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who (L)slipped in to spy out (M)our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, (N)so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that (O)the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. And from those (P)who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; (Q)God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential (R)added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been (S)entrusted with (T)the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, (U)who seemed to be (V)pillars, perceived the (W)grace that was given to me, they (X)gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, (Y)the very thing I was eager to do.

18 Then after three years,(A) I went up to Jerusalem(B) to get acquainted with Cephas[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James,(C) the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God(D) that what I am writing you is no lie.(E)

21 Then I went to Syria(F) and Cilicia.(G) 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea(H) that are in Christ.(I) 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith(J) he once tried to destroy.”(K) 24 And they praised God(L) because of me.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,(M) this time with Barnabas.(N) I took Titus(O) along also. I went in response to a revelation(P) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.(Q) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race(R) in vain. Yet not even Titus,(S) who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.(T) This matter arose because some false believers(U) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on(V) the freedom(W) we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel(X) might be preserved for you.

As for those who were held in high esteem(Y)—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism(Z)—they added nothing to my message.(AA) On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task(AB) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,[b](AC) just as Peter(AD) had been to the circumcised.[c] For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle(AE) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle(AF) to the Gentiles. James,(AG) Cephas[d](AH) and John, those esteemed as pillars,(AI) gave me and Barnabas(AJ) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.(AK) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,(AL) and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor,(AM) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 1:18 That is, Peter
  2. Galatians 2:7 That is, Gentiles
  3. Galatians 2:7 That is, Jews; also in verses 8 and 9
  4. Galatians 2:9 That is, Peter; also in verses 11 and 14