The apostles—especially James, Peter, and John—acknowledged Paul's Gentile commission and formally agreed to it by giving him the right hand of fellowship.
Galatians 2 records that when the pillars perceived the grace given to Paul, they gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, with the understanding that Paul and Barnabas would go to the heathen (Gentiles) and they would go to the circumcision (Jews). Les Feldick emphasizes that this was a clear division of ministry: the twelve were apostles of the Jew, while Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles. Peter's later defense of Paul at the Acts 15 council shows the apostles' eventual public support.
Galatians 2:7-9 — This passage records the Jerusalem apostles' recognition that Paul was entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised and their right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas.
Galatians 2:7-9 gives the clearest record of the apostles' reaction. Paul writes that when James, Cephas (Peter), and John—who seemed to be pillars—saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision had been committed to Paul just as the gospel of the circumcision had been committed to Peter, they perceived the grace that was given to Paul. They then gave Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, agreeing that Paul and Barnabas would go unto the heathen (the Gentiles) and the pillars would go unto the circumcision (the Jews). The same chapter also shows that Paul had gone up to Jerusalem by revelation and communicated to the twelve the gospel he preached among the Gentiles. In Romans 11:13, Paul plainly identifies himself as 'the apostle of the Gentiles.' At the Acts 15 council, after much disputing, Peter rose up and reminded the leaders that God had made choice among them that the Gentiles by his mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe—an acknowledgment that validated Paul's Gentile ministry.
Les Feldick teaches that the twelve apostles were apostles of the Jew, while Paul was raised up as the apostle of the Gentiles, a distinction he says is rarely noticed. When Paul went up to Jerusalem by revelation and shared the gospel he preached among the Gentiles, the Jewish leadership did not immediately approve. Les describes the Acts 15 scene as a time of much disputation and arguing, with some considering Paul a heretic. Eventually, however, James, Peter, and John—the pillars of the Jerusalem church—comprehended that Paul was on the right track regarding the Gentiles. Les says they 'gave in' and shook hands on it: Paul and Barnabas would go to the heathen (Gentiles), and the pillars would go to the Jew. Les calls this agreement 'plain as day.' He also notes that Peter's own struggle with Jewish separation surfaced at Antioch, where Peter withdrew from Gentile believers when fellow Jews arrived. Yet at the Acts 15 council, Peter defended Paul's Gentile ministry by reminding everyone that God had taken the gospel to the Gentiles through his mouth years earlier.
No. Les Feldick points out that when Paul was called on the carpet by the Jewish leadership in Acts 15, there was a lot of disputation and arguing that Paul was wrong and that he was a heretic. Peter's intervention—reminding the council that God had by his mouth taken the gospel to the Gentiles years earlier at Cornelius's house—was what spared Paul's ministry. Even so, the separation of Jewish thinking was hard to break; Les notes that Peter himself withdrew from Gentile believers at Antioch when fellow Jews arrived.
The right hand of fellowship was a formal agreement made by James, Peter, and John when they perceived the grace given to Paul. They extended the right hand to Paul and Barnabas, signifying agreement that Paul and Barnabas would go to the heathen (the Gentiles), while the pillars would go to the Jew. Les stresses that this was not a plan for the Jerusalem apostles to join Paul's Gentile mission; rather, they acknowledged his Gentile commission and remained focused on Israel.
Les Feldick teaches that until believers separate the ministries of Peter and Paul, they will be in total confusion. The twelve were apostles of the Jew, while Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles—Romans 11:13 says just as plain as day, in Les's words. Acts itself gives 17 of its 28 chapters to Paul, showing that Gentiles have a relation to Paul that they do not have to the other apostles.
Paul's Jerusalem Visit to Show His Gospel
Les explains that Paul went up to Jerusalem by revelation to communicate to the twelve the gospel he preached among the Gentiles—setting up the meeting that produced the apostles' response.
Paul's Unique Apostleship to the Gentiles
Les stresses that Paul was raised up as the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13), a role distinct from the twelve, which explains why the apostles did not simply join Paul in going to the Gentiles.
The Twelve as Apostles of the Jew
Les draws the sharp distinction that the twelve were apostles of the Jew while Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles, so the agreement made in Galatians 2 was a natural division of fields.
Why Paul Gets 17 Chapters in Acts
Les points to the structure of Acts—17 of 28 chapters devoted to Paul—as evidence that Gentiles have a unique relationship to Paul and that confusing Peter's and Paul's ministries brings confusion.
The Right Hand of Fellowship
Les walks through Galatians 2:7-9, showing that the pillars perceived Paul's grace and gave him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that they would go to the heathen and the pillars to the circumcision (Jews).
Jewish Resistance and Peter's Withdrawal
Les explains that the Jews were upset by Paul's Gentile mission, and even Peter struggled—he withdrew from Gentile believers at Antioch when fellow Jews arrived, prompting Paul's confrontation.
The Pillars' Agreement to Paul
Les emphasizes that when James, Peter, and John finally comprehended that Paul was right about the Gentiles, they gave in, shook hands, and agreed plainly that Paul would go to the Gentiles and they to the Jews.
Peter's Defense at the Acts 15 Council
Les relates that Peter did not leave Cornelius's house and begin a Gentile ministry, but 12 years later at Acts 15, after much disputing, Peter defended Paul by recalling God had used him to take the gospel to the Gentiles—sparing Paul's ministry.
Galatians 2:7-9: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles: 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.
This is the central passage showing the apostles' recognition of Paul's Gentile commission and the resulting right hand of fellowship.
Romans 11:13: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Paul himself declares his unique role as the apostle to the Gentiles, distinguishing his ministry from the twelve.
Acts 15:7: And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Peter's defense at the Jerusalem council helped validate Paul's Gentile ministry after a time of disputing.
Galatians 2:2: And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Paul went to Jerusalem by revelation to present the gospel he preached to the Gentiles before the twelve.
Yes. James, Peter, and John perceived the grace given to Paul and gave him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship. The agreement was that Paul and Barnabas would go to the heathen—the Gentiles—while the pillars would go to the Jew.
Yes. Les Feldick explains that at the Acts 15 council there was much disputing and arguing, with some saying Paul was wrong and calling him a heretic. Peter's reminder that God had already used him to carry the gospel to the Gentiles spared Paul's ministry.
Les says there is no indication that Peter began going to the Gentiles after Cornelius. Years later he defended Paul's Gentile ministry, but the formal agreement was that Paul would go to the heathen while the twelve went to the Jew.
In Romans 11:13 Paul plainly states, 'I am the apostle of the Gentiles.' Les teaches that this was a unique commission: the twelve were apostles of the Jew, while Paul was raised up as the apostle of the Gentiles.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Twelve Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem — Acts 1 & 8