What did the pillars perceive about Paul's unique apostleship?
The pillars perceived the grace given to Paul and recognized that he had a unique apostleship to the Gentiles. They acknowledged this ministry was not theirs to share, so they extended the right hand of fellowship, agreeing Paul and Barnabas should go to the heathen while they remained with the circumcision.
Les explains that those who seemed to be pillars were not really pillars but thought they were. When the Lord opened their eyes, they perceived the grace given to Paul and saw that he had a unique apostleship, one they could not be part of except to admit it. So they gave Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, shaking hands on the agreement that Paul and Barnabas should go back to the Gentile field while Peter, James, John, and the others stayed among the Jews, the circumcision. They added only that Paul should remember the poor, since there were poor Jews in Jerusalem who had sold their property and whose kitty had run out after 20 years, but God would not abandon them.
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.
More Questions
Who were the 'pillars' who gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship?
James, Peter (also called Cephas), and John, who were considered pillars, understood the grace given to Paul and gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.
Who were the 'pillars' Paul mentions in Galatians 2:9?
James, Peter, and John are the ones who 'seemed to be pillars' in Galatians 2:9 and who seemingly held the leadership role at Jerusalem.