Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus.

I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ;

I went up because of a revelation; and I set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who were of reputation, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.

And from those who were reputed to be something (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)those, I say, who were of repute added nothing to me;

and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of them all, "If you, being a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.

Now before faith came, we were bound under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the elemental things of the world.

to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.