What was the grace given to Paul according to this passage?
According to the passage, the grace given to Paul was his appointment as the primary apostle. James, Peter, and John perceived this grace and extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas, agreeing they should go to the Gentiles while the others went to the Jews.
Les explains that the grace given to Paul meant he was now the primary apostle. James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived or understood that grace and gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship. They all agreed that Paul and Barnabas should go to the heathen, that is, the Gentiles, the non-Jew, while Peter, James, and John would go to the Jew, to the circumcision. Les notes that the Jerusalem leaders could only go to the Jew a few more years, because the Romans would overrun Jerusalem and Israel would cease to be a viable entity, scattered into every nation. Paul therefore had to constantly defend his apostleship.
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.