But Paul and Barnabas didn’t agree with this. They argued strongly with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go up to Jerusalem. Some other believers were chosen to go with them. They were told to ask the apostles and elders about this question.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, the church welcomed them. The apostles and elders welcomed them too. Then Paul and Barnabas reported everything God had done through them.

The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

A Letter Is Written to Gentile Believers

Then the apostles, the elders and the whole church decided what to do. They would choose some of their own men who were leaders among the believers. They would send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. So they chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas. They were leaders among the believers.

Here is the letter they sent with them. The apostles and elders, your brothers, are writing this letter. We are sending it to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. Greetings.

Paul and his companions traveled from town to town. They reported what the apostles and elders in Jerusalem had decided. The people were supposed to obey what was in the report.

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I serve Christ Jesus. I have been appointed to be an apostle. God set me apart to tell others his good news.

We received grace because of what Jesus did. He made us apostles to the Gentiles. We must invite all of them to obey God by trusting in Jesus. We do this to bring glory to him.

I am talking to you who are not Jews. I am the apostle to the Gentiles. So I take pride in the work I do for God and others.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews. They have been in prison with me. They are leaders among the apostles. They became believers in Christ before I did.

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I have been chosen to be an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. Our brother Sosthenes joins me in writing.

True Apostles of Christ

So here is how you should think of us. We serve Christ. We are trusted with the mysteries God has shown us.

It seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of a parade. We are like people sentenced to die in front of a crowd. We have been made a show for the whole creation to see. Angels and people are staring at us.

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord? Aren’t you the result of my work for the Lord?

Others may not think of me as an apostle. But I am certainly one to you! You are the proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.

Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife with us when we travel? The other apostles do. The Lord’s brothers do. Peter does.

Or are Barnabas and I the only ones who have to do other work for a living? Are we the only ones who can’t just do the work of apostles all the time?

First, God has placed apostles in the church. Second, he has placed prophets in the church. Third, he has placed teachers in the church. Then he has given to the church miracles and gifts of healing. He also has given the gift of helping others and the gift of guiding the church. God also has given the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages.

Is everyone an apostle? Is everyone a prophet? Is everyone a teacher? Do all work miracles?

He appeared to Peter. Then he appeared to the 12 apostles.

He appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles.

I am the least important of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle. I tried to destroy God’s church.

But because of God’s grace I am what I am. And his grace was not wasted on me. No, I have worked harder than all the other apostles. But I didn’t do the work. God’s grace was with me.

So this is what we preach, whether I or the other apostles who preached to you. And that is what you believed.

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. Timothy our brother joins me in writing. We are sending this letter to you, the members of God’s church in Corinth. It is also for all God’s holy people everywhere in Achaia.

Paul and Those Who Pretend to Be Apostles

I hope you will put up with me in a little foolish bragging. Yes, please put up with me!

I don’t think I’m in any way less important than those “super-apostles.”

People like that are false apostles. They are workers who tell lies. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ.

Paul’s Concern for the People of Corinth

I have made a fool of myself. But you made me do it. You should have praised me. Even though I am nothing, I am in no way less important than the “super-apostles.”

While I was with you, I kept on showing you the actions of a true apostle. These actions include signs, wonders and miracles.

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle. People have not sent me. No human authority has sent me. I have been sent by Jesus Christ and by God the Father. God raised Jesus from the dead.

I didn’t go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

I didn’t see any of the other apostles. I only saw James, the Lord’s brother.

Paul Is Accepted by the Apostles

Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem. This time I went with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.

God was working in Peter as an apostle to the Jews. God was also working in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. I am sending this letter to you, God’s holy people in Ephesus. Because you belong to Christ Jesus, you are faithful.

You are a building that is built on the apostles and prophets. They are the foundation. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in the building.

The mystery was not made known to people of other times. But now the Holy Spirit has made this mystery known to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

So Christ himself gave the gift of the apostles to the church. He gave the prophets and those who preach the good news. And he also gave the pastors and teachers as a gift to the church.

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. Our brother Timothy joins me in writing.

We were not expecting people to praise us. We were not looking for praise from you or anyone else. Yet as Christ’s apostles, we could have used our authority over you.

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus, just as God our Savior commanded. Christ Jesus also commanded it. We have put our hope in him.

I was appointed to be a messenger and an apostle to preach the good news. I am telling the truth. I’m not lying. God appointed me to be a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. He sent me to tell about the promise of life found in Christ Jesus.

I was appointed to announce the good news. I was appointed to be an apostle and a teacher.

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I serve God, and I am an apostle of Jesus Christ. God sent me to help his chosen people believe in Christ more and more. God sent me to help them understand even more the truth that leads to godly living.

Jesus Is Greater Than Moses

Holy brothers and sisters, God chose you to be his people. So keep thinking about Jesus. We embrace him as our apostle and our high priest.

I, Peter, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am sending this letter to you, God’s chosen people. You are people who have had to wander in the world. You are scattered all over the areas of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.

I, Simon Peter, am writing this letter. I serve Jesus Christ. I am his apostle. I am sending this letter to you. You are those who have received a faith as valuable as ours. You received it because our God and Savior Jesus Christ does what is right.

I want you to remember the words the holy prophets spoke in the past. Remember the command our Lord and Savior gave through your apostles.