1 Catorze anos depois, subi outra vez a Jerusalém com Barnabé, levando também a Tito. 2 Subi em obediência a uma revelação; e lhes expus o evangelho que prego entre os gentios, mas em particular aos que pareciam de maior influência, para, de algum modo, não correr ou ter corrido em vão. 3 Contudo, nem mesmo Tito, que estava comigo, sendo grego, foi constrangido a circuncidar-se. 4 E isto por causa dos falsos irmãos que se entremeteram com o fim de espreitar a nossa liberdade que temos em Cristo Jesus e reduzir-nos à escravidão; 5 aos quais nem ainda por uma hora nos submetemos, para que a verdade do evangelho permanecesse entre vós. 6 E, quanto àqueles que pareciam ser de maior influência (quais tenham sido, outrora, não me interessa; Deus não aceita a aparência do homem), esses, digo, que me pareciam ser alguma coisa nada me acrescentaram; 7 antes, pelo contrário, quando viram que o evangelho da incircuncisão me fora confiado, como a Pedro o da circuncisão 8 (pois aquele que operou eficazmente em Pedro para o apostolado da circuncisão também operou eficazmente em mim para com os gentios) 9 e, quando conheceram a graça que me foi dada, Tiago, Cefas e João, que eram reputados colunas, me estenderam, a mim e a Barnabé, a destra de comunhão, a fim de que nós fôssemos para os gentios, e eles, para a circuncisão; 10 recomendando-nos somente que nos lembrássemos dos pobres, o que também me esforcei por fazer.

11 Quando, porém, Cefas veio a Antioquia, resisti-lhe face a face, porque se tornara repreensível. 12 Com efeito, antes de chegarem alguns da parte de Tiago, comia com os gentios; quando, porém, chegaram, afastou-se e, por fim, veio a apartar-se, temendo os da circuncisão. 13 E também os demais judeus dissimularam com ele, a ponto de o próprio Barnabé ter-se deixado levar pela dissimulação deles. 14 Quando, porém, vi que não procediam corretamente segundo a verdade do evangelho, disse a Cefas, na presença de todos: se, sendo tu judeu, vives como gentio e não como judeu, por que obrigas os gentios a viverem como judeus? 15 Nós, judeus por natureza e não pecadores dentre os gentios, 16 sabendo, contudo, que o homem não é justificado por obras da lei, e sim mediante a fé em Cristo Jesus, também temos crido em Cristo Jesus, para que fôssemos justificados pela fé em Cristo e não por obras da lei, pois, por obras da lei, ninguém será justificado. 17 Mas se, procurando ser justificados em Cristo, fomos nós mesmos também achados pecadores, dar-se-á o caso de ser Cristo ministro do pecado? Certo que não! 18 Porque, se torno a edificar aquilo que destruí, a mim mesmo me constituo transgressor. 19 Porque eu, mediante a própria lei, morri para a lei, a fim de viver para Deus. Estou crucificado com Cristo; 20 logo, já não sou eu quem vive, mas Cristo vive em mim; e esse viver que, agora, tenho na carne, vivo pela fé no Filho de Deus, que me amou e a si mesmo se entregou por mim. 21 Não anulo a graça de Deus; pois, se a justiça é mediante a lei, segue-se que morreu Cristo em vão.

1 Then after the space of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. 2 And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles but privately before them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain. 3 But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 and that because of the false brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 to whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But from those who were reputed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man’s person)—they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me: 7 but contrariwise, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the gospel of the circumcision 8 (for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles); 9 and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision; 10 only they would that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 21 I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought.

1 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.

2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.

5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

6 As for those who were held in high esteem —whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism —they added nothing to my message.

7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, "just as Peter had been to the circumcised. [^2]

8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.

9 James, Cephas "and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

12 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 from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.

13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

15 "We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles

16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in "Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

17 "But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn't that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!

18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

19 "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" [^5]