The Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15:5–21)
2 AKJV And I went up by revelation, and communicated to 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. BSB BSB: I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.
3 AKJV But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: BSB BSB: Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
4 AKJV And that because of false brothers unawares brought in, who came in privately to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: BSB BSB: This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
5 AKJV To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. BSB BSB: We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
6 AKJV But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatever they were, it makes no matter to me: God accepts no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: BSB BSB: But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.
7 AKJV But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to me, as the gospel of the circumcision was to Peter; BSB BSB: On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
8 AKJV (For he that worked effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) BSB BSB: For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.
9 AKJV And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go to the heathen, and they to the circumcision. BSB BSB: And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 AKJV Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. BSB BSB: They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Paul Confronts Cephas 11 AKJV But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. BSB BSB: When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
13 AKJV And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; so that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. BSB BSB: The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14 AKJV But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, If you, being a Jew, live after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compel you the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? BSB BSB: When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
15 AKJV We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, BSB BSB: We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners”
16 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
17 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not!
18 AKJV For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. BSB BSB: If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.
19 AKJV For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live to God. BSB BSB: For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
20 AKJV I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives 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. BSB BSB: I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
21 AKJV I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. BSB BSB: I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.