What were the believing Jews at Jerusalem like in the early church?
The believing Jews at Jerusalem had recognized Christ as the Messiah, yet they remained legalistic, Law-keeping Jews. They maintained separation and continued as temple worshipers. Like Peter, they had not been set free from the Law, so they still observed its requirements.
Les explains that these same believing Jews, under Peter’s control at Jerusalem, had maintained a separation but were still temple worshipers and legalistic Jews, though they had recognized Christ as the Messiah. He notes they could never be proven otherwise. Peter himself, a Law-keeping Jew, refused unclean food and told Cornelius it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with a man of another nation. So they had not been set free; they remained Law-keeping Jews.