¹⁸ Then after three years,^(A) I went up to Jerusalem^(B) to get acquainted with Cephas^[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James,^(C) the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God^(D) that what I am writing you is no lie.^(E)

²¹ Then I went to Syria^(F) and Cilicia.^{(G) 22} I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea^(H) that are in Christ.^{(I) 23} They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith^(J) he once tried to destroy.”^{(K) 24} And they praised God^(L) because of me.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

2 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,^(M) this time with Barnabas.^(N) I took Titus^(O) along also. ² I went in response to a revelation^(P) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.^(Q) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race^(R) in vain. ³ Yet not even Titus,^(S) who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.^{(T) 4} This matter arose because some false believers^(U) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on^(V) the freedom^(W) 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^(X) might be preserved for you.

⁶ As for those who were held in high esteem^(Y)—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism^(Z)—they added nothing to my message.^{(AA) 7} On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task^(AB) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,^[b](AC) just as Peter^(AD) had been to the circumcised.^{[c] 8} For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle^(AE) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle^(AF) to the Gentiles. ⁹ James,^(AG) Cephas^[d](AH) and John, those esteemed as pillars,^(AI) gave me and Barnabas^(AJ) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.^(AK) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,^(AL) and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor,^(AM) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,^(A) if any tenderness and compassion,^{(B) 2} then make my joy complete^(C) by being like-minded,^(D) having the same love, being one^(E) in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.^(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,^{(G) 4} not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.^(H)

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:^(I)