Accepted by the Jerusalem Leaders
Study note
Paul recounts his visit to Jerusalem fourteen years after his conversion, where he presented his gospel to the church leaders. The fact that Titus, a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised demonstrated that the Jerusalem leaders accepted the gospel of grace. James, Peter, and John recognized the grace given to Paul and extended fellowship, asking only that he remember the poor. This passage establishes that Paul's law-free gospel for Gentiles had apostolic approval.
1 Then, 14 years later, I went back to Jerusalem. I brought Barnabas with me, and I also took Titus along. Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2 I went because God revealed that I should. I met privately with the respected leaders and explained the good news that I preach to non-Jewish people. I wanted to make sure I had not been working for nothing. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
3 They did not even require my friend Titus to be circumcised, and he is Greek. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
4 This question only came up because some fake believers sneaked in among us. They came to spy on the freedom we have in Jesus Christ, because they wanted to drag us back into following rules. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
5 We did not give in to them for even a moment, because we wanted the truth of the good news to stay safe for you. To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6 As for the leaders who seemed important — their reputation does not matter to me, because God does not play favorites. Those leaders did not add anything to my message. But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
7 Instead, they could see that God had given me the job of sharing the good news with non-Jewish people. It was just like how he gave Peter the job of sharing it with the Jewish people. But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 The same God who worked through Peter for the Jewish people also worked through me for the non-Jewish world. (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9 James, Peter, and John -- the men everyone saw as pillars of the church -- recognized the grace God gave me. They shook hands with me and Barnabas as partners. We would go to the non-Jewish people, and they would go to the Jewish people. And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10 The only thing they asked was that we keep helping the poor, which was something I already wanted to do. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Confrontation at Antioch
Study note
Paul describes a critical moment when he publicly opposed Peter in Antioch for withdrawing from table fellowship with Gentile believers under pressure from the circumcision party. Peter's hypocrisy was leading others astray, including Barnabas. Paul's willingness to confront even the most prominent apostle demonstrates that the truth of the gospel must never be compromised for the sake of social pressure or prominent personalities.
11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I stood up against him right to his face because he was clearly wrong. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 Before certain people came from James, Peter ate meals with non-Jewish believers. But when those people appeared, he pulled away and ate alone. He was afraid of what the pro-circumcision group would think. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 The rest of the Jewish believers joined him in this two-faced behavior. Even Barnabas got swept up in it. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 I saw they were not following the truth of the good news. So I said to Peter in front of everyone, "You are Jewish, but you have been living like a non-Jewish person. How can you now force non-Jewish people to live like Jews?" But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Justified by Faith, Not by Law
Study note
Paul transitions from narrative to theology with a foundational declaration: a person is justified not by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. He argues that returning to the law after finding justification in Christ would make Christ a servant of sin. The passage reaches its climax in Paul's declaration that he has been crucified with Christ and now lives by faith in the Son of God. If righteousness could come through the law, then Christ's death was unnecessary.
15 We ourselves were born Jewish, not outsiders that Jews would call 'sinners.' We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Yet we know that no one is made right with God by following rules and laws. People are made right with God only by trusting in Jesus Christ. Even we put our trust in Christ Jesus so we could be made right through faith, not through obeying laws. Nobody has ever been made right with God by following laws. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 Now, we try to get right with God by trusting in Christ. But what if we ourselves turn out to be sinners? Does that mean Christ leads us into sin? Certainly not! But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 If I go back and rebuild the old system of rules that I tore down, I prove that I was wrong to tear it down in the first place. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 Through the law itself, I died to the law's power over me, so I could truly live for God. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I will never throw away God's grace. If people could be made right with God by following laws, then Christ died for nothing. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.