What happened when Paul had conference with the Jerusalem leaders?
At the conference, the leaders compared notes with Paul about the Old Testament promises and his revelations concerning the gospel of grace. They added nothing to him because they did not have the revelations he had. Paul stood his ground and did not give in, so the truth of the gospel would continue.
Les explains that when Paul had conference with the leaders, they really started to compare everything that had been unfolding: all of the Old Testament covenant promises, the revelations given to Saul, and his commission to go to the Gentile with the gospel of grace. They put it all together and compared notes, especially after Peter remembered that God would save Gentiles outside of Judaism. The result was that they added nothing to Paul, because they did not have the revelations he had; he had more than they did. Paul says he did not give in for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. The leaders seemed to be somewhat, thinking they were still in control, but the Jewish program was slipping away and the Gentile program was ascending. Peter's defense was crucial; otherwise the rest of those Jews would have squashed Paul and Barnabas, stopping Christianity in its tracks and preventing the Gentile world from receiving the Gospel of Grace.