Such teaching, so very different from that of the Apostles, caused great distress in Antioch, where most of the believers had either been proselytes of the gate, only worshipping the Lord God of Israel, but not observing any of the ceremonies commanded by the Law of Moses; or else idolaters, until they became Christians. All these converts had been truly taught by St. Paul and St. Barnabas, that if they believed in Jesus so as to obey His word, that was quite sufficient; and that they would be as acceptable in the sight of God, as if they had been Jews from their birth, keeping the whole Law perfectly. The Christians of Antioch therefore might well be frightened and distressed, at being now told that they could not obtain the salvation promised by the Gospel, unless they kept all the ordinances of the Mosaic Law: in short, that if they wished to be saved, they must be Jews as well as Christians. The Apostles of course opposed these Jewish teachers, and tried to convince them that the Gospel was all-sufficient; and that Christ's disciples had but to follow their Master's teaching. They do not seem, however, to have succeeded, and the perplexity of the Christians continued. "When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and elders about this question"—that is, to ask James and the elders of their Church, to decide, whether the Jewish teachers or the Apostles were to be believed.
Just before this time, we learn from other histories, that there had been great troubles amongst the Jews in Judæa. A famine had afflicted the country,—probably that which Agabus had foretold. This had been followed by riots. In the year 48 (a.d.), a Roman soldier, who cared nothing for the religion of the Jews, and did not look upon the temple as a holy place, profaned it in some way, and thus made the Jews very angry. A great tumult was immediately raised, and several thousand Jews were crushed or trampled to death, in the narrow ways leading to the temple; and other disturbances followed.
These things are not mentioned in the Bible, but it is well to note them, as they show us how the punishment of the Jews as a nation, was continually felt, from the time when they filled up the measure of their guilt, by crucifying their Messiah.
It was in the year 49 (a.d.), that St. Paul and St. Barnabas left Antioch for Jerusalem, in order to consult the Church there, as to the necessity of keeping the Law of Moses.
We read in the Book of Acts, that "being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the Apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." This last passage is not very clearly put: the last verse is what the Apostles said as to the reason of their coming to Jerusalem.
The meaning of the whole passage is, that St. Paul and St. Barnabas explained to the Church all that it had pleased God to do by means of their preaching, and how great numbers of the Gentiles had become Christians, and were serving God faithfully: but that certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, had disturbed them by saying, that it was needful that they should be circumcised like the Jews, and keep all the ceremonies and ordinances commanded by the Law of Moses.
James and the other elders of the Church, having heard all that St. Paul and St. Barnabas had to say, saw that it was very necessary to settle a question, which was of the greatest importance to the converts from the Gentiles. And they "came together for to consider of this matter," and decide upon what message should be sent back to Antioch.
When the Apostles and elders of the Church began to talk over the matter, there was much difference of opinion amongst the brethren: some being inclined to agree with the Pharisees, that the Law of Moses ought to be observed; others thinking that the Gospel was to be instead of the Law, and not added to it.
This gave rise to a great deal of discussion and argument; each side advancing their own opinions, and trying to persuade the other party to agree with them. This went on for some time, till at last, St. Peter, who was present, stood up, and gave his opinion upon the matter.