The Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15:5–21)
2 CPDV And I went up according to revelation, and I debated with them about the Gospel that I am preaching among the Gentiles, but away from those who were pretending to be something, lest perhaps I might run, or have 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 CPDV But even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Gentile, was not 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 CPDV but only because of false brothers, who were brought in unknowingly. They entered secretly to spy on our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might reduce us to servitude. 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 CPDV We did not yield to them in subjection, even for an hour, in order that the truth of the Gospel would remain 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 CPDV and away from those who were pretending to be something. (Whatever they might have been once, it means nothing to me. God does not accept the reputation of a man.) And those who were claiming to be something had nothing to offer 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 CPDV But it was to the contrary, since they had seen that the Gospel to the uncircumcised was entrusted to me, just as the Gospel to the circumcised was entrusted 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 CPDV For he who was working the Apostleship to the circumcised in Peter, was also working in me among 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 CPDV And so, when they had acknowledged the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who seemed like pillars, gave to me and to Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we would go to the Gentiles, while they went to the circumcised, 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 CPDV asking only that we should be mindful of the poor, which was the very thing that I also was solicitous to do. BSB BSB: They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Paul Confronts Cephas 11 CPDV But when Cephas had arrived at Antioch, I stood against him to his face, because he was blameworthy. BSB BSB: When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 CPDV For before certain ones arrived from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they had arrived, he drew apart and separated himself, fearing those who 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 CPDV And the other Jews consented to his pretense, so that even Barnabas was led by them into that falseness. BSB BSB: The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14 CPDV But when I had seen that they were not walking correctly, by the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in front of everyone: “If you, while you are a Jew, are living like the Gentiles and not the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to keep the customs of 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 CPDV By nature, we are Jews, and not of the Gentiles, sinners. BSB BSB: We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners”
16 CPDV And we know that man is not justified by the works of the law, but only by the faith of Jesus Christ. And so we believe in Christ Jesus, in order that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law. For no flesh will be justified by the works of the law. 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 CPDV But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are also found to be sinners, would then Christ be the minister of sin? Let it not be so! 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 CPDV For if I rebuild the things that I have destroyed, I establish myself as a prevaricator. BSB BSB: If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.
19 CPDV For through the law, I have become dead to the law, so that I may live for God. I have been nailed to the cross with Christ. BSB BSB: For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
20 CPDV I live; yet now, it is not I, but truly Christ, who lives in me. And though I live now in the flesh, I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and who delivered 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 CPDV I do not reject the grace of God. For if justice is through the law, then Christ died 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.