The Council of Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1-10)

Then after fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 I went up in accord with a revelation, and I presented to them the gospel that I preach to the Gentiles—but privately to those of repute—so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain. 3 Moreover, not even Titus, who was with me, although he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised, 4 but because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, that they might enslave us— 5 to them we did not submit even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain intact for you. 6 But from those who were reputed to be important (what they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those of repute made me add nothing. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter to the circumcised, 8 for the one who worked in Peter for an apostolate to the circumcised worked also in me for the Gentiles, 9 and when they recognized the grace bestowed upon me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, we were to be mindful of the poor, which is the very thing I was eager to do. 

Fourteen years after his conversion (Acts 9:1-9), Paul made his second visit to Jerusalem for a meeting with church leaders after receiving a revelation from God.  He took Barnabas, a Jewish convert and Paul's divinely appointed companion in ministry (Acts 13:1-3), and Titus, a Gentile convert whom Paul had not compelled to be circumcised (Gal. 2:3).  The purpose of Paul’s visit was to address the issue of Gentile inclusion in the Christian community without the necessity of circumcision.  Some who claimed to be believers had ulterior motives and insisted that Gentile converts observe Jewish laws and customs, particularly circumcision.  

He privately presented the Gospel he preached to the Gentiles to the leaders of the Jerusalem church, which included Peter, James, and John, who were regarded as pillars of the Church.  He wanted to ensure that his message was consistent with the teachings of the Jerusalem church since there was some disagreement within the Christian community about whether the Jewish customs and traditions applied to the Gentile Christians.  Paul perceived their motive was to enslave believers under the burden of the law.  Through faith in Christ, Christians had been freed from slavery to the Law and the false brothers were trying to bring believers back under the yoke of the Law which cannot lead to salvation.  Paul strongly proclaimed justification by faith rather than by adherence to the Mosaic Law.  Paul and his companions resisted the demands of the false brothers and insisted that the truth of the Gospel must be preserved.  

Paul reassured the Galatians that God shows no partiality and that the esteemed leaders in Jerusalem, including Peter, James (the brother of Jesus), and John, conveyed no additional knowledge or instructions to him.  They acknowledged him as an apostle to the Gentiles just as Peter was an apostle to the Jews.  They recognized that the same Holy Spirit empowered Peter and him to fulfill their apostolic missions through grace.  James, Peter, and John extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas in partnership, confirming their support for the respective missions to the Gentiles and the Jews.  They told Paul and Barnabas to remember to care for the poor.

Almighty God, lead all Christians to unity and grant us the grace to understand the Gospel as Jesus intended, the wisdom to discern and reject false teaching, and the strength of faith not to be swayed by erroneous thoughts or beliefs.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.