What was the controversy in Acts 15 between Peter, the eleven at Jerusalem, and Paul?
The controversy in Acts 15 centered on whether Gentiles could be saved apart from Judaism. Paul taught Gentile believers had salvation without circumcision and without keeping the Law. Pharisees at Jerusalem insisted Gentiles must be circumcised and keep Moses' Law. This produced a great confrontation, until Peter defended Paul by recalling Cornelius.
Les explains that Acts 15 records the big controversy between Peter and the eleven at Jerusalem and Paul, who was dealing with Gentiles at Antioch. Paul was telling them they had salvation apart from Judaism, without circumcision and without being commanded to keep the Law. Paul and Barnabas were brought to Jerusalem to settle the matter. Pharisees who believed said it was needful to circumcise the Gentile believers and to keep the Law of Moses. Paul rejected that as part of his message. There was a great confrontation and argument, but Peter finally came to Paul's defense, remembering about fourteen years earlier at Cornelius's house that God would save a Gentile without ascribing to Judaism, without repentance and water baptism—they were saved even before Peter got that far.