King James Bible
"Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also."
Paul marks a significant time gap since his conversion or previous Jerusalem visit, emphasizing his independence from the Jerusalem apostles during his early ministry. This chronological marker helps establish his apostolic authority as received directly from Christ rather than through human intermediaries. Paul's return to Jerusalem with Barnabas, his trusted ministry partner from Antioch, suggests an official or purposeful visit rather than casual travel. The phrase 'went up' reflects Jerusalem's elevated geography and its spiritual significance as the center of early Christianity. Paul deliberately includes Titus, an uncircumcised Greek convert, as a test case for Gentile inclusion in the church. This strategic choice would become central to the Jerusalem meeting's debates about whether Gentiles must follow Jewish law to be saved.