What had Paul been doing among the Gentiles before Acts 15?
Paul had been out among the Gentiles for several years, establishing churches in Asia Minor, especially at Antioch. He had been laboring among Gentile converts before the Jerusalem council, while Jewish believers from Jerusalem still resisted accepting that ministry.
Les teaches that Acts chapter 15 is a parallel chapter to Galatians chapter 2. By this point Paul has now been out amongst the Gentiles for several years, establishing the churches in Asia Minor and especially in Antioch. The setting in Acts 15 involves Jewish believers who came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Even believing Jews at Jerusalem, not the Pharisees, were still not accepting Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles. They were still law-keeping and held the mentality that the King and Kingdom framework had to be in place.