they simply kept hearing: “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.”

And they glorified God because of me.

Now from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism)—they added nothing to me.

On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised,

When James, Cephas, and John, recognized as pillars, acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I made every effort to do.

For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party.

But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”

They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.

For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh.