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

至于那些有名望的，不论他是何等人，都与我无干。神不以外貌取人。那些有名望的，并没有加增我什么，

至于那些有名望的，不论他们是何等人，都与我无关；上帝不以外貌取人。那些有名望的，并没有加增我什么。

至于那些有名望的，不论他们是何等人，都与我无关；神不以外貌取人。那些有名望的，并没有加增我什么。

至于那些德高望重的教会领袖，他们的地位对我来说无关紧要，因为上帝不以貌取人。他们对我所传的并没有增加什么。

至于那些被认为有名望的人（无论他们从前怎么样，都与我无关；神不以外貌取人），他们并没有给我增加什么；

至于那些公认是人物的——无论他们从前什么样，都对我没有区别；神不以外貌取人。那些公认是人物的并没有给我增添什么；

至於那些有名望的，不論他是何等人，都與我無干。神不以外貌取人。那些有名望的，並沒有加增我甚麼，

至於那些有名望的，不論他們是何等人，都與我無關；上帝不以外貌取人。那些有名望的，並沒有加增我甚麼。

至於那些有名望的，不論他們是何等人，都與我無關；神不以外貌取人。那些有名望的，並沒有加增我甚麼。

至於那些德高望重的教會領袖，他們的地位對我來說無關緊要，因為上帝不以貌取人。他們對我所傳的並沒有增加什麼。

至於那些被認為有名望的人（無論他們從前怎麼樣，都與我無關；神不以外貌取人），他們並沒有給我增加甚麼；

至於從那些所謂有名望的人呢（無論他們從前是甚麼樣的人，於我都沒有差別。上帝不以外貌取人）——那些有名望的人於我並沒有增益甚麼。

至於那些公認是人物的——無論他們從前什麼樣，都對我沒有區別；神不以外貌取人。那些公認是人物的並沒有給我增添什麼；

至於有名望者、無論何如人、於我無與、蓋上帝不以貌視人、彼有名望者、無所增益於我、

其有名者、不論何人、於我無與、上帝不以貌取人、要其有名者、與我無所增益、

至於有名者、不論何人、皆與我無與、天主不以貌取人、彼有名者、於我無所增益、

然吾人屹然不搖、未嘗於須臾之間、受其羈縻；此亦所以使福音之真傳、長存爾中、始終不渝耳。至於眾望所歸之同人、予亦未因其聲價之特殊、而另眼相看。夫人之貴賤、於天主乎何有？實則彼等於予亦未有所增；

As for those who were held in high esteem— whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism— they added nothing to my message.

Some people in Jerusalem were thought to be important. But it makes no difference to me what they were. God does not treat people differently. Those people added nothing to my message.

And from those who seemed to be influential( what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)— those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.

And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching.( By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.)

But from those who were of considerable repute( what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism)— well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me.

But from those who seemed to be something— whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man— for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.

But from those who were reputed to be somewhat( whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man’s person)— they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to 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.

But of these who seemed to be somewhat,( whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed[ to be somewhat] in conference added nothing to me:

But from those who were influential( whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people)– those influential leaders added nothing to my message.

But from those who were reputed to be important— whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man— they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,

I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders. I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain.

Peter began to speak:“ Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism,

I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those“ super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those“ super-apostles.”

For there is no favoritism with God.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that! But in whatever anyone dares to boast— I am talking foolishly— I also dare:Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I.Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman— I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.

If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.

So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied: I am young in years, while you are old; therefore I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom.

So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians.“ Teacher,” they said,“ we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality.

God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.

Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.

The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter.After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them,“ Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe.And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us.He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.After they stopped speaking, James responded,“ Brothers, listen to me.Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again,so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by my name— declares the Lord who makes these thingsknown from long ago.Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers.They wrote:“ From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul,who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision— and ours— not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements:that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.”

For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.John had been telling Herod,“ It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not,because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.

I too will answer; yes, I will tell what I know.For I am full of words, and my spirit compels me to speak.My heart is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins.I must speak so that I can find relief; I must open my lips and respond.I will be partial to no one, and I will not give anyone an undeserved title.For I do not know how to give such titles; otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.

From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way.

They questioned him,“ Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and you don’t show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God.

When they came, they said to him,“ Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

When James, Cephas, and John— those 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 had made every effort to do.But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.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.Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.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?”