The Council in Jerusalem

15 ^(A)Some men came down from Judea and began teaching ^(B)the brothers, “Unless you are ^(C)circumcised according to ^(D)the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² And after Paul and Barnabas had ^[a]a heated argument and ^(E)debate with them, ^(F)the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the ^(G)apostles and elders concerning this issue. ³ Therefore, after being ^(H)sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both ^(I)Phoenicia and Samaria, ^(J)describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all ^(K)the brothers and sisters. ⁴ When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, ^(L)the apostles, and the elders, and they ^(M)reported all that God had done with them. ⁵ But some of ^(N)the sect of the ^(O)Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to ^(P)circumcise ^[b]them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

¹¹ But when ^(A)Cephas came to ^(B)Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he ^[a]stood condemned. ¹² For prior to the coming of some men from ^[b](C)James, he used to ^(D)eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, ^(E)fearing those from the circumcision. ¹³ The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even ^(F)Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they ^(G)were not ^[c]straightforward about ^(H)the truth of the gospel, I said to ^(I)Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, ^(J)live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?^[d]

² Beware of the ^(A)dogs, beware of the ^(B)evil workers, beware of the ^[a]false circumcision; ³ for ^(C)we are the true ^[b]circumcision, who ^(D)worship in the Spirit of God and take ^(E)pride in ^(F)Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh,

¹⁷ Brothers and sisters, ^(A)join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the ^(B)pattern you have in us. ¹⁸ For ^(C)many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I ^(D)weep, that they are the enemies of ^(E)the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their ^[a](F)appetite, and whose ^(G)glory is in their shame, who ^(H)have their minds on earthly things.