Paul and Barnabas agreed to take the gospel to the Gentiles, while Peter, James, and John continued ministering to the Jews.
The Jerusalem leaders recognized that God had committed the gospel of the uncircumcision to Paul, just as the gospel of the circumcision was to Peter. They gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that Paul and Barnabas would go to the heathen and they would go to the circumcision.
Galatians 2:9 — This verse directly records the right hand of fellowship and the agreement that Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentiles while the Jerusalem leaders went to the Jews.
In Galatians 2:7-9, Paul explains that the Jerusalem leaders saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to him, just as the gospel of the circumcision was committed to Peter. They also saw that the same God who worked effectually in Peter toward the Jews was mighty in Paul toward the Gentiles. When James, Peter, and John perceived the grace that was given to Paul, they gave him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship. The agreement was that Paul and Barnabas would go to the heathen (the Gentiles), and they would go to the circumcision (the Jews).
Les Feldick emphasizes how plain the agreement is: Paul and Barnabas were to go to the Gentiles, and Peter, James, and John were to go to the Jews. He points out that the Jerusalem leaders finally comprehended that Paul was right about the Gentiles and gave in, shaking hands as a sign of the agreement. Les also notes that this was decided around 51 A.D., thirteen years after Peter had gone to Cornelius. He stresses that the Twelve did not yet realize their prophetic program was slipping away and that God was turning to the Gentiles. Peter, however, came to Paul's defense in Acts 15, remembering how God had saved Gentiles at the house of Cornelius.
The agreement was between Paul and Barnabas on one side and James, Peter, and John—the seeming pillars of the Jerusalem church—on the other side. The Jerusalem leaders perceived the grace given to Paul and gave him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship.
Paul and Barnabas were to go to the heathen, that is, the Gentiles, while Peter, James, and John were to go to the Jew. Les Feldick points out that this is plainly stated in the text and was sealed with a handshake.
Les teaches that the Twelve thought they were still in control of their prophetic program. They did not realize that God was now turning to the Gentiles and that Israel would soon lose the temple, the priesthood, their city, and their nation. However, Peter eventually came to Paul's defense at the Jerusalem council, and the Jewish believers accepted Paul's Gentile ministry.
Why Paul's Stand Was Critical
Les explains that if the Jerusalem believers had stopped Paul's ministry, Gentiles would have had no gospel of grace; the Twelve did not realize their program was slipping away.
The Gospel of the Uncircumcision and the Circumcision
The Jerusalem leaders saw the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to Paul and the gospel of the circumcision to Peter, then agreed that Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentiles and they to the Jews.
Right Hands of Fellowship
When James, Peter, and John perceived the grace given to Paul, they gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, signifying the agreement to separate fields of ministry.
The Agreement to Go to the Heathen
The pillars finally comprehended that Paul was on the right track and shook hands, agreeing that Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentiles and they would go to the Jews.
A Handshake Agreement
The handshake was the agreement: Paul and Barnabas would go to the heathen, and the Jerusalem leaders would go to the Jew.
The Twelve's Unawareness
Les emphasizes that the Twelve did not realize their prophetic program was falling away as the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to Paul.
Peter's Defense at Acts 15
Peter remembered that God sent him to Cornelius, showing that God saves Gentiles without requiring them to become proselytes of Judaism.
The Jerusalem Council Conclusion
After Peter's defense, the Jewish believers quieted down and let Paul and Barnabas continue their Gentile ministry; James, the Lord's brother, moderated the meeting.
Galatians 2:7: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
This verse sets out the two spheres of ministry: Paul's gospel to the Gentiles and Peter's to the Jews.
Galatians 2:8: (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
This verse shows that the same God energized both Peter's Jewish ministry and Paul's Gentile ministry.
Galatians 2:9: 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 core agreement: the Jerusalem pillars recognized Paul's grace and commissioned him and Barnabas to the Gentiles.
Acts 15:12: Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
This verse records how the Jerusalem assembly listened to Paul and Barnabas testify of God's work among the Gentiles.
No. They agreed that Paul and Barnabas would take the gospel to the Gentiles while Peter, James, and John would continue to the Jews. The same God was working effectively in both ministries.
James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship after they perceived the grace that was given to Paul.
It meant Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentiles, while Peter, James, and John would go to the Jews. Les Feldick says this division is plain as day in Galatians 2:9.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Gospel to Gentiles Is Different From Peter's