^2:9and when James, Cephas,²⁹ and John, who had a reputation as³⁰ pillars,³¹ recognized³² the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me³³ the right hand of fellowship, agreeing³⁴ that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.³⁵

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Footnotes

29 Cephas. This individual is generally identified with the Apostle Peter (L&N 93.211).
30 Or “who were influential as,” or “who were reputed to be.” See also the note on the word “influential” in .
31 Pillars is figurative here for those like James, Peter, and John who were leaders in the Jerusalem church.
32 The participle γνόντες (gnontes) has been taken temporally. It is structurally parallel to the participle translated “when they saw” in v. 7.
33 Grk “me and Barnabas.”
34 Grk “so,” with the ἵνα (hina) indicating the result of the “pillars” extending the “right hand of fellowship,” but the translation “they gave … the right hand of fellowship so that we would go” could be misunderstood as purpose here. The implication of the scene is that an agreement, outlined at the end of v. 10, was reached between Paul and Barnabas on the one hand and the “pillars” of the Jerusalem church on the other.
35 Grk “to the circumcision,” a collective reference to the Jewish people.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When James, Cephas, and John—those recognized as pillars—acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

NLTNew Living Translation

In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

and when James and Cephas and John—those thought to be pillars—acknowledged the grace given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, in order that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcision.

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

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