Am I now using arguments to men, or God? or is it my desire to give men pleasure? if I was still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me, was not after the manner of men,

neither received I it of man, neither was I taught it: but received it by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

for ye did hear of my behaviour once in Judaism, that exceedingly I was persecuting the assembly of God, and wasting it,

and prevailed in the Jews' law, above many of my companions, which were of mine own nation, and was a much more fervent maintainer of the traditions of the elders.

and when God was well pleased -- having separated me from the womb of my mother, and having called me through His grace --

was pleased to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the gentiles, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood,

Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and stayed awhile, and afterward returned once more to Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Cephas, and was there with him fifteen days.

But [on this trip] I did not see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. [Note: This "James" was not one of the original twelve apostles. See Matt. 10:2-4].

[Then after that] I went to the territories of Syria and Cilicia. [Note: Cilicia was where Paul's home town of Tarsus was located. See Acts 9:30].

and was unknown, as touching my person, unto the congregations of Jewry, which were in Christ.

and only they were hearing, that 'he who is persecuting us then, doth now proclaim good news -- the faith that then he was wasting;'

So, they gave honor to God for [what He was doing through] me.

I went up under the guidance of a divine revelation. Now I laid before them the good news that I was in the habit of preaching among the heathen, but first I did so privately before the leaders, for fear that my course might be or might have been to no purpose.

Also Titus which was with me, though he were a Greek, yet was not compelled to be circumcised;

Now [this was] because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order that they might enslave us,

But from those who were of high reputation (whatever they were—in terms of individual importance—makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality—He is not impressed with the positions that people hold nor does He recognize distinctions such as fame or power)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me [that is, they had nothing to add to my gospel message nor did they impose any new requirements on me].

But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel over the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel over circumcision was unto Peter -

For he that was mighty in Peter in the apostleship over the circumcision, the same was mighty in me among the gentiles -

and therefore when James, Cephas, and John, which seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the righthands, and agreed with us that we should preach among the heathen, and they among the Jews:

warning only that we should remember the poor, which thing also I was diligent to do.

And when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him in the face, for he was worthy to be blamed.

For before the coming of certain people from James, he was in the habit of eating with heathen Christians, but after they came, he began to draw back and hold aloof from them, because he was afraid of the circumcision party.

and the other Jews dissembled likewise; Insomuch that Barnabas was brought into their simulation also.

For it was by means of [this system of] law-keeping that I [realized I] was dead. This was so I could find life through a relationship with God.

I do not make the grace of God of no effect: because if righteousness is through the law, then Christ was put to death for nothing.

O foolish Galatians: who hath bewitched you, that ye should not believe the truth, to whom Jesus Christ was described before the eyes, and among you crucified?

Answer me this one question. "When you received the Spirit, was it from doing what the Law commands or from believing the message heard?"

Did you suffer so much for nothing? (If it really was for nothing!)

He then who was supplying unto you the Spirit, and energising mighty works among you, by works of law, or by a believed report did he it ?

Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was ascribed to him for righteousness."

Moreover the Scripture, foreseeing that God was to accept the gentiles as righteous by faith, proclaimed beforehand the glad tidings to Abraham, saying, "In thee shall all nations be blessed."

So then those who are of faith have a part in the blessing of Abraham who was full of faith.

But Christ hath delivered us from the curse of the law, and was made accursed for us - for it is written, "Cursed is everyone that hangeth on tree" -

that the blessing promised to Abraham might come on the Gentiles thro' Jesus Christ; that we by believing might receive the spirit that was promised.

Now it was to Abraham that the promises were spoken, and to his offspring. God did not say, "offsprings" as if speaking of many, but "and to your offspring," as of one; and this is Christ.

This I say, that the law which began afterward, beyond four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul the testament, that was confirmed afore of God unto Christ ward, to make the promise of none effect.

For if our inheritance depends on the law, it can no longer depend on the promise. But it was by promise that God so graciously bestowed it upon Abraham.

Wherefore then serveth the law? The law was added because of transgression - till the seed came, to which the promise was made - and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Now the mediator or go-between [in a transaction] is not [needed] for just one party; whereas God is only one [and was the only One giving the promise to Abraham, but the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity depended on both].

Is the law then contrary to God's promises? Of course not. For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, surely, then, right standing would have come through law.

But the Scripture has captured everything by means of sin's net, so that what was promised by the faithfulness of the Messiah might be granted to those who believe.

But before this faith came, we were kept locked up under the law, in preparation for the faith which was to be unveiled.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster unto the time of Christ, that we might be made righteous by faith.

But when faith was come, we were no longer under a paedagogue.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are [truly] Abraham's seed [i.e., his spiritual descendants] and thereby [you will] inherit what was promised to him [i.e., God's blessings].

It was the same way with us. While we were children, we were slaves to the basic principles of the world.

But when the time was full come, God sent his son - born of a woman, and made bond unto the law -

I begin to be afraid that perhaps the labor I spent on you was wasted.

Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I also was as ye are: and ye have not injured me at all.

And yet you know that it was because of an illness of mine that I preached the good news to you the first time,

And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

what then was your happiness? for I testify to you, that if possible, your eyes having plucked out, ye would have given to me;

and I was wishing to be present with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you.

For it is written in the law about Abraham's two sons [Gen. 16]; one [was] by his slave woman [Hagar] and the other by the free woman, [his wife, Sarah].

Yea, and he which was of the bondwoman, was born after the flesh: but he which was of the freewoman, was born by promise.

Now these facts are about to be used [by me] as an allegory [that is, I will illustrate by using them]: for these women can represent two covenants: one [covenant originated] from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] that bears children [destined] for slavery; she is Hagar.

For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren who bearest not, cry out and shout for joy, thou that travailest not, for more are the children of her that was desolate, than of her which had an husband."

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

But as then he that was born carnally, persecuted him that was born spiritually; Even so is it now.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Ye did run well. Who was a let unto you, that ye should not obey the truth?

[Your] being persuaded [to do this] was not motivated by God, who called you [into His fellowship].