James, Peter, and John gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship because they perceived the grace given to Paul and agreed that Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentiles while they went to the Jews.
The handshake was an agreement. The Jerusalem pillars recognized that the same God who worked effectually in Peter for the Jews was mighty in Paul toward the Gentiles. They then divided the field: Paul and Barnabas to the heathen, and the Jewish leaders to the circumcision. This confirmed that Gentile believers were not to be brought under the Mosaic legal system.
Galatians 2:9 — This is the verse that records the right hand of fellowship and explicitly states the agreement that Paul and Barnabas would go to the heathen and the Jerusalem pillars to the circumcision.
Galatians 2:7-8 — These verses show the basis for the fellowship: the leaders saw that God had committed the gospel of the uncircumcision to Paul just as He committed the gospel of the circumcision to Peter.
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. When James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to Paul, they gave to him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship. The stated agreement was that Paul and Barnabas should go to the heathen, and the pillars would go to the circumcision. Galatians 2:4 also reveals that false brethren had come in secretly to spy out the liberty believers have in Christ Jesus, intending to bring them into bondage.
Les Feldick repeatedly highlights that James, Peter, and John finally perceived or understood the grace that was given to Paul. When they did, they gave Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship — shaking hands as a sign of mutual agreement. He calls it a 'gentleman's agreement': Paul and Barnabas were to go to the heathen, the Gentiles, while James, Peter, and John would go to the Jews.
Les says the pillars perceived or understood the grace that was given to Paul. They saw that the same God who wrought effectually in Peter for the apostleship of the circumcision was mighty in Paul toward the Gentiles. This recognition convinced them that Paul's Gentile ministry was from God.
The handshake sealed the agreement that Paul and Barnabas would go to the heathen, meaning the Gentiles, and James, Peter, and John would go to the Jew. Les emphasizes that this was a 'gentleman's agreement' and says it was plain as day.
False brethren had come in secretly to spy out the liberty believers have in Christ Jesus, wanting to bring them into bondage. Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension over the demand for circumcision and legalism, and they refused to put that burden on Gentile believers. The matter was then taken to Jerusalem.
Les says this agreement was reached in 51 A.D., 13 years after Peter had gone to Cornelius. The Jerusalem leaders placed only one requirement on Paul and Barnabas: to remember the poor, which Paul was forward to do.
At the Jerusalem meeting, Peter came to Paul's defense by reminding the Jewish believers that God had saved Gentiles at the house of Cornelius. The Jewish believers then quieted down and allowed Paul and Barnabas to go back to their Gentile ministry. Les notes that James, the half-brother of Jesus, moderated this meeting.
False Brethren Spied Out Liberty
Les sets the stage by explaining that Jerusalem believers were upset that Gentiles were saved without keeping the law, and false brethren came in secretly to spy out the liberty believers have in Christ Jesus in order to bring them into bondage.
Perceiving the Grace Given to Paul
Les shows that when James, Peter, and John perceived the grace given to Paul, they gave him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, agreeing that Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentiles and the pillars to the Jews.
A Gentleman's Agreement
Les says the pillars finally saw that God was doing something special through Paul for the Gentiles, so they shook hands on an agreement for Paul and Barnabas to go to the heathen and the Jewish leaders to go to the Jews.
The Gospel of the Uncircumcision Recognized
Les explains that when the Jerusalem leaders saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to Paul, they gave the right hand of fellowship, and he dates this at 51 A.D., 13 years after Peter went to Cornelius.
Hands-On Agreement for Jews and Gentiles
Les points out that the handshake agreement sent Paul and Barnabas to the Gentiles while James, Peter, and John went to the Jews, and he notes Peter still had his focus on the covenant prophetic program promised to Israel.
Peter's Defense at Jerusalem
Les recounts the Jerusalem council context, where Peter defended Gentile salvation from the house of Cornelius and James, the half-brother of Jesus, moderated the meeting.
Refusing Legalism for Gentile Believers
Les shows that Paul and Barnabas had a sharp argument and refused to put circumcision and legalism on Gentile believers, which is why the matter had to be brought to Jerusalem.
Only One Requirement: Remember the Poor
Les says that after the handshake agreement, the only requirement placed on Paul and Barnabas was to remember the poor, which Paul was forward to do.
Galatians 2:4: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
This verse explains the threat of false brethren who wanted to rob Gentile believers of their freedom from the law.
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 is part of Paul's account of what the Jerusalem leaders saw and recognized about his ministry.
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 shows the parallel working of God in Peter for Jews and in Paul for Gentiles.
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 central verse recording the right hand of fellowship and the agreement to divide the Gentile and Jewish ministries.
They gave it because they perceived the grace given to Paul and recognized that God was working through him among the Gentiles. The right hand of fellowship was their agreement that Paul and Barnabas would minister to the Gentiles while they ministered to the Jews.
It was a handshake, a sign of agreement. Les describes it as a 'gentleman's agreement' in which Paul and Barnabas were to go to the heathen, or Gentiles, and James, Peter, and John were to go to the circumcision, or Jews.
No. Paul and Barnabas refused to put circumcision and legalism on Gentile believers. After the right hand of fellowship, the only requirement placed on them was to remember the poor, which Paul said he was forward to do.
Watch the Teaching: Not Under Law but Under Grace — What Romans 6:14 Really Means