Who was trying to force the law on the Gentile believers in Antioch?
Jewish believers from Jerusalem, along with false brethren who came in secretly, were trying to force the law on the Gentile believers at Antioch. They wanted to bring them into bondage by requiring them to keep the law of Judaism. Paul and Barnabas refused to give place by subjection, not for an hour.
Les explains that Paul had been ministering to Gentiles at Antioch, where believers were first called Christians. The Jerusalem believers, including Peter and the rest, were shaken because Paul claimed these Gentiles were saved without keeping the law of Judaism. False brethren had been brought in secretly to spy out the liberty believers have in Christ Jesus, aiming to bring them into bondage, back under the law. These Jewish believers of Jerusalem were still trying to hang the law on Paul, Barnabas, and the Antioch Gentile believers. Paul says they gave place by subjection—no, not for an hour—so they did not yield.