Galatians, 2

1. Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with [me] also.

1. After fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and Titus came with us.

2. 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.

2. Following a revelation, I went to lay before them the Gospel that I am preaching to the pagans. I had a private meeting with the leaders - lest I should be working or have worked in a wrong way.

3. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

3. But they did not impose circumcision, not even on Titus who is Greek and who was with me.

4. 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:

4. Because there were some intruders and false brothers who had gained access to watch over the way we live the freedom Christ has given us. They would have us enslaved by the Law,

5. To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

5. but we refused to yield even for a moment; so that the truth of the Gospel remain intact in you.

6. 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:

6. The others, the more respectable leaders - it does not matter what they were before: God pays no attention to the status of a person - gave me no new instructions.

7. But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the circumcision [was] unto Peter;

7. They recognized that I have been entrusted to give the Good News to the pagan nations, just as Peter has been entrusted to give it to the Jews.

8. (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

8. In the same way that God made Peter the apostle of the Jews, he made me the apostle of the pagans.

9. 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.

9. James, Peter and John acknowledged the graces God gave me. Those men who were regarded as the pillars of the Church stretched out their hand to me and Barnabas as a sign of fellowship; we would go to the pagans and they to the Jews.

10. Only [they would] that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

10. We should only keep in mind the poor among them. I have taken care to do this.

11. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

11. When later Cephas came to Antioch, I confronted him since he deserved to be blamed.

12. 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.

12. Before some of James' people arrived, he used to eat with non-Jewish people. But when they arrived, he withdrew and did not mingle anymore with them, for fear of the Jewish group.

13. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

13. The rest of the Jews followed him in this pretense, and even Barnabas was part of this double-dealing.

14. 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?

14. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas publicly: If you who are Jewish agreed to live like the non-Jews, setting aside the Jewish customs, why do you now compel the non-Jews to live like Jews?

15. We [who are] Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

15. We are Jews by birth; we are not pagan sinners.

16. 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.

16. Yet we know that no one is made just and holy by the observance of the Law but by faith in Christ Jesus. So we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may receive true righteousness from faith in Christ Jesus, and not from the practices of the Law, because no mortal will be set right with God in the field of the Law.

17. 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.

17. We thought we would find in Christ the way of righteousness; if in doing this we were in the wrong, then Christ would be working for sin. Not so!

18. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

18. But look: if we do away with something and then restore it, we admit we did wrong.

19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

19. As for me, the very Law brought me to die to the Law, that I may live for God. I am crucified with Christ. Do I live? It is no longer me, Christ lives in me. My life in this body is life through faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

20. 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.

20. In this way I don't ignore the gift of God,

21. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

21. for, if holiness were through the practice of the Law, Christ would have died for nothing.