The Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15:5–21)
2 WBS And I went by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them who 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 WBS 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 WBS And that because of false brethren 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 WBS 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 WBS But of these, who seemed to be somewhat, (whatever 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: 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 WBS But on the contrary, 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 WBS (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me towards 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS But when Peter had 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 WBS For before that certain came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles: but when they had come, he withdrew, and separated himself, fearing them 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 WBS 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 WBS But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to 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? 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 may 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 WBS But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? By no means. 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 WBS 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 WBS For I through the law am dead to the law, that I may live to God. BSB BSB: For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
20 WBS 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. 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 WBS I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness is attainable by the law, then Christ hath 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.