The Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15:5–21)
2 UEB I went up because of a revelation and set before them the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles. I spoke privately to those who seemed to be important, in order to make sure that I was not running—or had not 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 UEB But not even Titus, who was with me and who was a Greek, was forced 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 UEB The false brothers came in secretly to spy on the liberty we have in Christ Jesus. They desired to make us slaves, 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 UEB but we did not yield in submission to them for a moment, so 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 UEB But those who seemed to be important (whatever they were does not matter to me, God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed important 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 UEB On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to those who are uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to those who are circumcised. 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 UEB For God, who worked in Peter for the apostleship to those who are circumcised, also worked in me to 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 UEB When James, Cephas, and John, who were recognized as those who built up the church, understood the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me. They did this so that we should go to the Gentiles, and so that they should go to those who are 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 UEB They requested only that we remember the poor, the very thing that I was eager to do. BSB BSB: They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Paul Confronts Cephas 11 UEB But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he was declared to be in the wrong. BSB BSB: When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 UEB Before certain men came from James, Cephas was eating with the Gentiles. But when these men came, he stopped and kept away from the Gentiles. He was afraid of those who were demanding 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 UEB Also the rest of the Jews joined in this hypocrisy. Even Barnabas was led astray with them by their hypocrisy. BSB BSB: The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14 UEB But when I saw that their behavior was not following the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of all of them, "If you are a Jew but are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like 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 UEB We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; BSB BSB: We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners”
16 UEB yet we know that no person is justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus. We also came to faith in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law. For by the works of the law no flesh will 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 UEB But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we too, were found to be sinners, does Christ then promote sin? Absolutely not! 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 UEB For if I rebuild those things I once destroyed, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker. BSB BSB: If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.
19 UEB For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. BSB BSB: For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
20 UEB I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. 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. 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 UEB I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, then Christ died for nothing! 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.