Galatians 2
Paul Accepted by the Apostles
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those awho seemed influential) the gospel that bI proclaim among the Gentiles, cin order to make sure I was not running or had not drun in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, awas not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 aYet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who bslipped in to spy out cour freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, dso that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that athe truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those awho seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; bGod shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential cadded nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been aentrusted with bthe gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, awho seemed to be bpillars, perceived the cgrace that was given to me, they dgave 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, athe very thing I was eager to do.
Paul Opposes Peter
11 But awhen Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him bto his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, ahe was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing bthe circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their aconduct was not in step with bthe truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas cbefore them all, “If you, though a Jew, dlive like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Justified by Faith
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not aGentile sinners; 16 yet we know that aa person is not justified by works of the law bbut through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, cbecause by works of the law no one will be justified.
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found ato be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I adied to the law, so that I might blive to God. 20 I have been acrucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives bin me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, cwho loved me and dgave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for aif righteousness were through the law, bthen Christ died for no purpose.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.