What made Peter change his position and side with Paul at the Jerusalem conference?
Peter changed his position because the Holy Spirit awakened him to recall that about twelve years earlier God had sent him to Cornelius's house and showed him that He could save a Gentile. Recognizing this, Peter concluded Paul was right, and he sided with Paul, leading the Jerusalem conference to agree.
Les explains that at the Jerusalem conference Paul withstood the others to the face, insisting his pagan converts recently come out of idolatry did not have to keep the Judaic Law or practice circumcision, because they were now saved by grace through faith plus nothing. After the conference went on a good part of the day, Peter, by the work of the Holy Spirit, woke up and remembered that twelve years earlier God had sent him to the house of Cornelius and showed him that He could save a Gentile. Peter then said, 'I guess Paul's right,' and they gave in. This is Galatians chapter 2, where James, Cephas (Peter), and John, the inner core, perceived the grace given to Paul and gave him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship.
More Questions
Who came to Paul's defense at the Jerusalem council and what did he remember?
Peter finally came to Paul's defense in Acts 15, remembering that about fourteen years earlier he had gone to the house of Cornelius.