⁹ James,^(A) Cephas^[a](B) and John, those esteemed as pillars,^(C) gave me and Barnabas^(D) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.^(E) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,^(F) and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor,^(G) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

Paul Opposes Cephas

¹¹ When Cephas^(H) came to Antioch,^(I) I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from James,^(J) he used to eat with the Gentiles.^(K) 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.^(L)

Freedom in Christ

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.^(A) Stand firm,^(B) then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.^(C)

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?^(A) In that case the offense^(B) of the cross has been abolished. ¹² As for those agitators,^(C) I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!