Why did it take time for the Jerusalem leadership to understand Paul's revelations?
The Jerusalem leadership needed time because the revelations given through Paul were so far above and beyond Judaism that they could not immediately grasp where he was coming from. Paul and Barnabas therefore reasoned with them point by point, line upon line, proving that nothing may be added to Christ and the believer except faith alone.
Les explains that Paul and Barnabas came from Antioch and tried to prove to the leadership of Jerusalem that you cannot add anything to the relationship between Christ and the believer except faith, and faith alone in Paul's Gospel. They did not flippantly say, “This is what we believe.” Instead, they sat down and looked at it point by point, line upon line. The reason this took time is that the revelations that came through the Apostle Paul are so above and beyond Judaism that these people needed time to understand where he was coming from. Paul's Gospel includes the whole body of truth involving justification, sanctification, forgiveness, redemption, being baptized into the Body of Christ, and being indwelt with the Holy Spirit.