What was the status of the Jerusalem leaders when Paul wrote Galatians?
When Paul wrote Galatians, roughly 20 to 22 years after Pentecost, the Jerusalem leaders still thought they were 'somewhat' and still considered themselves leaders, but they were not. Their former power base was slipping away, so their control had diminished.
Les explains that in Galatians 2:5 Paul refers to the Jerusalem leaders, to whom he gave no place by subjection for even an hour, so the truth of the gospel would continue with the Gentiles. In earlier days those leaders truly were 'somewhat': Jewish believers in Jerusalem sold land and houses, even Barnabas sold property in Cyprus, and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet because the apostles were in charge. But by the time Paul writes, about 20 to 22 years after Pentecost, they still thought they were the 'somewhat,' yet they were not, because their power base was slipping away.
But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
More Questions
By the time Paul wrote Galatians, about 22 years after Pentecost, what had happened to the standing of the Jerusalem leaders?
About twenty-two years after Pentecost, when Paul writes by inspiration, the Jerusalem leaders still thought they were 'the somewhat,' but they were not, because their power base was slipping away.
What happened when the Jerusalem leaders compared notes in conference?
When the Jerusalem leaders met in conference and compared notes of doctrine rather than experience, that comparison is what revealed the difference.
Was Paul just venting at the Jerusalem apostles when he wrote about those who seemed to be somewhat?
Paul's statement about "those who seemed to be somewhat" was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, not merely as Paul getting back at the Jerusalem leaders personally.