¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(A) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^{(B) 17} I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.^(C)

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

²¹ Then I went to Syria^(I) and Cilicia.^(J)

⁶ As for those who were held in high esteem^(A)—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism^(B)—they added nothing to my message.^{(C) 7} On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task^(D) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,^[a](E) just as Peter^(F) had been to the circumcised.^{[b] 8} For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle^(G) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle^(H) to the Gentiles. ⁹ James,^(I) Cephas^[c](J) and John, those esteemed as pillars,^(K) gave me and Barnabas^(L) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.^(M) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,^(N) and they to the circumcised.