What did the Jerusalem pillars do after recognizing the grace given to Paul?
When Peter, James, and John—the pillars—perceived the grace given to Paul, they extended the right hands of fellowship to him and Barnabas. They agreed that Paul and Barnabas should go to the Gentiles, while they themselves would go to the circumcision.
Les explains that when Peter, James, and John, who seemed to be pillars, understood the grace given to Paul, they gave Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship. This meant Paul and Barnabas would go to the heathen, or Gentiles, while the Jerusalem leaders would go to the circumcision. Les notes this was decided in A.D. 51, thirteen years after Peter had gone to Cornelius, and that Paul stood his ground while many Jewish believers still maintained that Gentiles could not be saved unless they became proselytes of Judaism.