Paul’s ministry was very successful. He and Barnabus crossed Europe and Asia sharing the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The message was very simple: “Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and you will be saved.” Romans 10:9.
Paul was not on a mission to bring the non-Jewish world into Judaism; he was focused on bringing the lost world to Christ.
Unrest among the Jewish Christians was growing. They still believed that the chosen people of God had a duty to be marked by the covenant of circumcision. In their minds, it was a reasonable request. These people were becoming adopted children of the Father, God. They should live “set apart” as other Messianic Jews were doing.
Paul, Barnabus, and Titus met with Peter and James, the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem. It was not a meeting to show off their great success or to criticize Peter’s and James’ ministry and leadership. Instead, it was a quiet meeting to finally settle this dispute. In short, Paul’s position was that the Gospel of Christ stood alone. There was no need to follow Jewish law and tradition to receive the free gift of salvation offered by our Lord.
Peter and James agreed. They affirmed Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles and set no conditions on him to continue preaching the gospel of freedom to the non-Jewish world. It was their hope the agreement would end 14 years of division and dispute among the members of the faith. They also validated Paul’s legitimacy as an Apostle and his ministry to Gentile believers across the globe.
God Bless You
Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 [a]It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. 5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6 But from those who [b]were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God [c]shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel [d]to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been [e]to the circumcised 8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship [f]to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, [g]James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right [h]hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.
Walking With God 