Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



Fourteen years later I went up to Jerusalem again, with Barnabas, and took Titus also with me (I went up at that time in obedience to a revelation). And I laid before them the gospel which I am wont to preach among the Gentiles. I did this privately before those in authority, lest by any means I should be running, or should already have run, in vain. But although Titus, my companion, was a Greek, they did not compel even him to be circumcised. read more.
Yet there were false brethren who had crept in to spy out the freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us again. To them we did not yield submission even for an hour, in order that the truth of the gospel might abide unshaken among you. But those in authority??hat they once were makes no difference to me; God is no respecter of persons??hose I say who were in authority had no additions to make my message. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter has with the gospel for the circumcised (for he who has equipped Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised, equipped me also for the apostleship to the Gentiles), and when they recognized the grace which had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, then thought to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and to me the right hand of fellowship. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the Jews.

But when God who had set me apart from my very birth, and had called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach his gospel among the Gentiles, without consulting a human being, or even going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I went off at once to Arabia, and on my return came back to Damascus. read more.
Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter, and spent two weeks with him. I saw no other apostle except James, the Lord's brother. (In what I am now writing, I call God to witness that I am telling the truth.) Then I went into the districts of Syria and Cilicia. But to the churches of Christ in Judea I was personally unknown; only they used to hear it said, "He who was once persecuting us is now preaching the gospel of the very faith which he once tried to ruin." And they were giving glory to God on my account.


So the church saw them off on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria. Here they set forth the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.

only they used to hear it said, "He who was once persecuting us is now preaching the gospel of the very faith which he once tried to ruin." And they were giving glory to God on my account.


And as they were worshiping the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them, and let them go.


But when God who had set me apart from my very birth, and had called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach his gospel among the Gentiles, without consulting a human being, or even going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I went off at once to Arabia, and on my return came back to Damascus. read more.
Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter, and spent two weeks with him. I saw no other apostle except James, the Lord's brother. (In what I am now writing, I call God to witness that I am telling the truth.) Then I went into the districts of Syria and Cilicia. But to the churches of Christ in Judea I was personally unknown; only they used to hear it said, "He who was once persecuting us is now preaching the gospel of the very faith which he once tried to ruin." And they were giving glory to God on my account.

For to you who are Gentiles I say that since I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry,

"For such is God's command to us, saying, "I have set thee for a light to the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation to the uttermost part of the earth." When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who had been ordained to eternal life, believed.

"After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, read more.
"'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"


only they used to hear it said, "He who was once persecuting us is now preaching the gospel of the very faith which he once tried to ruin."