Who were the inner core of the twelve apostles in the Jerusalem church?
James, Cephas (also called Peter), and John formed the inner core of the twelve apostles in the Jerusalem church. They were regarded as pillars, though the account implies they were no longer the pillars they once thought they were as God moved from Judaism and legalism into grace.
Les teaches that James, Cephas—that is, Peter—and John were the “inner sanctum,” or inner core, of the twelve. In Galatians 2:9 he notes they “seemed to be pillars,” but he explains this implies they were no longer the pillars they thought they were, because God was changing the program: He was coming out of Judaism and legalism and into the age of grace. When they perceived the grace given to Paul, they extended the right hand of fellowship to him and Barnabas, agreeing that Paul should go to the heathen.
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.