Galatians 2:1-10

1: Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
2: 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 were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God 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 to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised
8: (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles),
9: and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right 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.

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Paul continued discussing his history in showing that he had little to no contact with the other apostles in the early years of his ministry. It was fourteen years after his conversion that he went back to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus to discuss the issue of whether Gentiles needed to be circumcised, as some had been saying (Acts 15). This was not because they had sent for him or because he was seeking their permission or advice. He had been preaching the gospel as an apostle to the Gentiles—the uncircumcised non-Jewish people—as the Lord had instructed him without any commissioning from them. Many signs and wonders were being done including the gift of the Holy Spirit being given as it had in the beginning to the Jewish disciples which was verification itself that God was with him and had sent him.

Paul went to speak to those “of reputation” in Jerusalem because there were those claiming the Gentiles had to be circumcised and Paul wanted to address this issue with them. His comment about Titus in verses 3-5 is referring to when those who claimed the Gentiles had to be circumcised came to visit, even Titus who was Greek (and half-Jewish), did not get circumcised. This was to make the point that salvation does not come through circumcision or keeping the Law in any way. The apostles agreed with him after the debate in Jerusalem. However, Titus did get circumcised eventually once it was clear that it was not being done for any religious purpose but in keeping with the social part of the Jewish ordinance.

Paul didn’t gain anything from those of “high reputation.” He knew where his authority and call came from and didn’t look for approval or recognition from man. Yet when the “pillars” James, Cephas (Peter), and John saw that God was with Paul and worked mightily with him, they welcomed him and Barnabas and their call to the Gentiles, agreeing that the Gentiles did not need to be circumcised. They only asked that they remember the poor, which was already in Paul’s heart to do.