1. Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem. This time I went with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
2. I went because God showed me what he wanted me to do. I told the people there the good news that I preach among those who aren't Jews. But I spoke in private to those who seemed to be leaders. I was afraid that I was running or had run my race for nothing.
3. Titus was with me. He was a Greek. But even he was not forced to be circumcised.
4. That matter came up because some who pretended to be believers had slipped in among us. They wanted to find out about the freedom we have because we belong to Christ Jesus. They wanted to make us slaves again.
5. We didn't give in to them for a moment. We wanted the truth of the good news to remain with you.
6. Some people in Jerusalem seemed to be important. It makes no difference to me what they were. God does not judge by what he sees on the outside. Those people added nothing to my message.
7. In fact, it was just the opposite. They saw that I had been trusted with the task of preaching the good news just as Peter had been. My task was to preach to the non-Jews. Peter's task was to preach to the Jews.
8. God was working through Peter as an apostle to the Jews. He was also working through me as an apostle to the non-Jews.
9. James, Peter and John are considered to be pillars in the church. They recognized the special grace that was given to me. So they shook my hand and the hand of Barnabas. They wanted to show they accepted us. They agreed that we should go to the non-Jews. They would go to the Jews.