Yes, those Jews were Jewish believers, likely influenced by the Jerusalem church, who insisted that Gentile believers must keep the Law and be circumcised.
Les Feldick explains that these were Jewish believers from Jerusalem who, while believing Jesus was the Messiah, still practiced the Law and the temple worship. They came into Gentile congregations and taught that Paul's Gospel of grace was insufficient, requiring Law-keeping and circumcision for salvation (Clip 0, Clip 3, Clip 4).
Acts 15:5 — This verse introduces the Pharisaic believers who insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised and keep the Law, directly answering the question.
The book of Acts describes a controversy at the Jerusalem Council, where certain believers from the sect of the Pharisees rose up, saying, 'It was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses' (Acts 15:5, KJV). These were Jewish believers who had accepted Jesus as the Messiah but still adhered to the Law. They taught that Gentile believers must also be circumcised and keep the Law to be saved.
Les Feldick teaches that these were Jewish believers who were still within the confines of Judaism, practicing the Law and temple worship (Clip 3). They came from Jerusalem, possibly under the influence of Peter and the Eleven or the orthodox Jewish establishment, and opposed Paul's Gospel of grace at every turn (Clip 0). They insisted that Gentile believers could not be saved by Paul's Gospel alone but had to keep the Law and be circumcised (Clip 0). This issue was the central controversy at the Jerusalem Council around 51-52 A.D., where Paul, Barnabas, and the Judaizers clashed (Clip 4, Clip 5).
According to Les Feldick, these Jewish teachers came into Gentile congregations and said, "You can't be saved by Paul's Gospel alone. You have to keep the Law, you have to practice circumcision, or you can't be saved" (Clip 0). They insisted that salvation required adherence to the Law and circumcision, undermining the Gospel of grace.
Les Feldick describes the Jerusalem Council (around 51-52 A.D.) as a gathering where Peter, James, John, and other Jewish believers in Jerusalem confronted Paul about his teaching that Gentiles could be saved without keeping the Law or being circumcised (Clip 4). The council was called to settle this controversy once and for all, with some even arguing from the sect of the Pharisees (Clip 5).
Judaizers Opposing Paul
Les explicitly identifies these Jews as Judaizers from Jerusalem who told Gentile congregations they must keep the Law and be circumcised to be saved.
Why Paul Didn't Learn From Peter — Galatians Chapter 1 Explained
I hope you can come back there, but I also want you to jump ahead to chapter 11 to see how those early Jewish believers adhered to that commandment that Jesus gave to the Twelve. Now a lot of people think that as soon as Jesus began His ministry, the Church began, and God's grace and the Gospel went out to the whole world. Not according to this Book.
Gospel of the Kingdom vs. Grace: What Most People Miss
Well skip across the page to verse 23, and I want you all to see this one. I hope the camera gets on the verse, I want our television audience to read it. Matthew 4, verse 23, "...and Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues..." Now who went to synagogues? Jews or Gentiles? Jews! Oh there might have been an occasional proselyte Gentile, but it was Jews. "...
Jewish Believers Under the Law
Les explains that these Jewish believers recognized Jesus as Messiah but remained within Judaism, practicing the Law and worshiping at the temple.
Jerusalem Council Context
Les sets the Jerusalem Council scene: Jewish believers at Jerusalem called Paul to settle the issue of whether Gentiles must keep the Law and be circumcised.
Pharisee Believers at the Council
Les notes that even at the council, certain Pharisaic believers rose up, insisting on the necessity of Law-keeping for Gentile believers.
Why the Resurrection Happens in Order — 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
And they who were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, that which we just read about back there in chapter 7. Those Jews who came under that persecution, headed up of course by Saul of Tarsus. They were scattered as far, or they traveled as far as Phoenix and Cyprus and Antioch preaching the Word, and I always have to stop there, what Word have they got? Old Testament.
Why Paul Warned About "Another Jesus" — 2 Corinthians 11:4
They gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship. They shook on the whole deal. And they all agreed. That we, Paul and Barnabas, should go to the heathen, that's Gentiles, the non-Jew. And they would go, I'm adding the verb, I know that. And they would go where? To the Jew, to the circumcision. Now, they can only go to the Jew a few more years, because the Romans overrun Jerusalem.
Acts 15:5: 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 verse directly names the believing Pharisees who taught that Gentile converts must keep the Law and be circumcised.
Yes, they were Jewish believers who had recognized Jesus as the Messiah (Clip 3). However, they still practiced the Law and taught that Gentile believers must also keep the Law and be circumcised (Clip 0).
They taught that Paul's Gospel of grace was not enough; Gentile believers had to keep the Law and be circumcised to be saved (Clip 0).
Paul opposed them at every turn, and the issue was brought to the Jerusalem Council, where the matter was debated (Clip 0, Clip 4, Clip 5).
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Paul Spend Three Years Alone Before Preaching? — Galatians Explained