The Other Apostles Accepted Paul
1After 14 years, I went to Jerusalem again. I went with Barnabas, and I took Titus with me.
2I went because God showed me that I should go. I went to those men who were considered to be the leaders {of the believers}. When we were alone, I told these men the Good News
3Titus was with me. Titus is a Greek (non-Jew). But these leaders did not force even Titus to be circumcised.
4(2:3)
5But we did not agree with anything those false brothers wanted! We wanted the truth of the Good News to continue for you.
6Those men who seemed to be important did not change the Good News
7But these leaders saw that God had given me a special work, the same as Peter.
8God gave Peter the power to work as an apostle.
9James, Peter, and John seemed to be the leaders. They saw that God had given me this special grace (gift).So they accepted Barnabas and me. Peter, James, and John said, “Paul and Barnabas, we agree that you should go to the people who are not Jews. We will go to the Jews.”
10They asked us to do only one thing—to remember to help the poor people. And this was something that I really wanted to do.
Paul Shows that Peter Was Wrong
11Peter came to Antioch. He did something that was not right. I was against Peter, because he was wrong.
12This is what happened: When Peter first came to Antioch, he ate and associated with the non-Jewish people. But then some Jewish men came from James. When these men came, Peter separated himself from the non-Jews. He stopped eating with them. Why? Because he was afraid of the Jews who believe that all non-Jewish people must be circumcised.
13So Peter was a hypocrite.
14I saw what these Jews did. They were not following the truth of the Good News.
15We Jews were not born as non-Jews and sinners. We were born as Jews.
16We know that a person is not made right with God by following the law.
17We Jews came to Christ to be made right with God. So it is clear that we were sinners too. Does this mean that Christ makes us sinners? No!
18But I would really be wrong to begin teaching again those things (the law) that I gave up.
19I stopped living for the law. It was the law that killed me. I died to the law so that I can now live for God. I (my old life) was killed on the cross with Christ.
20So the life that I live now is not really me—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God (Jesus). Jesus is the One who loved me. He gave himself to save me.
21This gift is from God, and it is very important to me. Why? Because if law could make us right with God, then Christ did not have to die.