Galatians 2:11-21

New International Reader's Version

Paul Opposes Peter

¹¹ When Peter came to Antioch, I told him to his face that I was against what he was doing. He was clearly wrong. ¹² He used to eat with the Gentiles. But certain men came from a group sent by James. When they arrived, Peter began to draw back. He separated himself from the Gentiles. That’s because he was afraid of the circumcision group sent by James. ¹³ Peter’s actions were not honest, and other Jews in Antioch joined him. Even Barnabas was led astray.

¹⁴ I saw what they were doing. It was not in line with the truth of the good news. So I spoke to Peter in front of them all. “You are a Jew,” I said. “But you live like one who is not. So why do you force Gentiles to follow Jewish ways?”

¹⁵ We are Jews by birth. We are not sinful Gentiles. ¹⁶ Here is what we know. No one is made right with God by obeying the law. It is by believing in Jesus Christ. So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus. This is so we can be made right with God by believing in Christ. We are not made right by obeying the law. That’s because no one can be made right with God by obeying the law.

¹⁷ We are seeking to be made right with God through Christ. As we do, what if we find that we who are Jews are also sinners? Does that mean that Christ causes us to sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸ Suppose I build again what I had destroyed. Then I would really be breaking the law.

¹⁹ By the law, I died as far as the law is concerned. I died so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. I don’t live any longer, but Christ lives in me. Now I live my life in my body by faith in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not get rid of the grace of God. What if a person could become right with God by obeying the law? Then Christ died for nothing!