The Jerusalem believers were concerned because Gentile believers at Antioch were being accepted by God apart from Judaism, without circumcision and without keeping the law of Moses.
Les Feldick explains that when the Jerusalem church heard that Gentiles in Antioch were being saved through Paul's gospel of grace, they "got shook up" and sent Barnabas to investigate (Clips 1, 6). The men who came from Judea taught, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1). The issue finally reached Jerusalem, where believing Pharisees insisted that the Gentile believers must be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:5).
Acts 15:1 — This verse records exactly what the men from Judea taught: circumcision after the manner of Moses was necessary for salvation.
Acts 15:5 — This verse shows that believing Pharisees in Jerusalem insisted the Gentile believers at Antioch must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses.
Acts 11:22 reports what the Jerusalem believers did when news about Antioch reached them: "Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch." The reason for their concern becomes explicit in Acts 15:1: "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." Acts 15:5 then identifies who was making this demand: "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."
Les Feldick shows that when the Jerusalem church heard that Gentiles in Antioch were being saved through Paul's grace gospel, they "got shook up." From the Jewish perspective, "Gentiles got no business. This is for only the Jew." So they sent Barnabas to check out what was happening (Clips 1, 6). Even 20+ years after Pentecost, Peter, James, John, and the rest of the Jerusalem believers could not comprehend that God was now saving Gentiles apart from keeping the law and circumcision (Clip 3). Les also explains that the Jerusalem believers were still under the Judaistic umbrella. The Bible never calls them Christians; they had only believed that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel. The believers at Antioch were hearing Paul's gospel — that Jesus had died for them, His blood had been shed for their sin, and He had been raised from the dead (Clip 7). The conflict came to a head when men from Judea taught that circumcision was required for salvation (Acts 15:1), and believing Pharisees insisted that the Gentile believers must be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:5). According to Les, Paul had to be called down to Jerusalem to answer for teaching that Gentiles could be saved without the law (Clips 2, 4, 5).
Les says the Jerusalem church heard that Gentiles at Antioch were getting interested in the God of Israel for the first time, and they "got shook up." They sent Barnabas up to check it out. From the Jerusalem perspective, "Gentiles got no business" with the God of Israel; it was "for only the Jew." Les compares this to a denominational headquarters sending emissaries to investigate possible false teaching.
According to Acts 15:1, certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." Les describes this as a "big argument" between Paul and Barnabas and these Jews from Jerusalem, who insisted that the Gentiles could not be saved unless they were circumcised after the manner of Moses.
Les explains that even 20+ years after Pentecost, the Jerusalem people — Peter, James, John and the rest — could not comprehend that God was doing something with the Gentiles. They were still under the Judaistic umbrella and had only believed that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel. The believers at Antioch, however, had received Paul's gospel: that Jesus died for their sin, His blood was shed, and He had been raised from the dead.
The controversy became so serious that Paul and Barnabas were brought up to Jerusalem to answer for teaching salvation apart from Judaism. Certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed insisted it was needful to circumcise the Gentile believers and command them to keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:5). Les says the Jerusalem church was still based on the law and circumcision, while the Gentiles were based on the grace of God, so the two had to be reconciled.
Ishmael vs. Isaac: The Allegory of Law and Grace Explained
just said. Now turn back in this same chapter 4, and I'll show you from the Scripture what I'm talking about. In Galatians chapter 4 verse 9, where Paul writes to these Galatian believers, Gentiles remember, now saved by grace, but were being tempted to go back under the law.
Jerusalem's Reaction to Gentile Interest at Antioch
Les shows that the Jerusalem church was shaken when Gentiles at Antioch began responding to the God of Israel for the first time, so they sent Barnabas to investigate.
Believing Pharisees Insisted on Circumcision
Les explains that believing Pharisees in Jerusalem insisted it was necessary to circumcise the Gentile believers in Antioch and command them to keep the law of Moses, and they called Paul to answer for his grace message.
Jerusalem Could Not Comprehend Gentile Salvation
Les shows that even 20+ years after Pentecost, Peter, James, John, and the Jerusalem believers could not accept that God was saving Gentiles apart from keeping the law and circumcision.
The Acts 15 Controversy Over the Law
Les characterizes the conflict in Acts 15 as the Jerusalem believers confronting Paul over teaching Gentiles that they could be saved without circumcision and without keeping the law.
Circumcision Demanded as a Requirement
Les describes the argument at Jerusalem: certain Jews insisted that Gentiles could not be saved unless they were circumcised after the manner of Moses.
Sending Barnabas to Investigate Antioch
Les uses the Jerusalem believers' reaction — "Gentiles got no business" — to show why they sent Barnabas to check out the teaching at Antioch.
Judaistic Jerusalem Believers vs. Antioch Grace
Les contrasts the Jerusalem believers, who were still under the Judaistic umbrella and believed Jesus was Israel's Messiah, with the Antioch believers, who had received Paul's gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection.
Acts 11:22: Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
This verse shows the first recorded response of the Jerusalem church to the Gentile work at Antioch.
Acts 15:1: And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
This verse states exactly what the men from Judea were teaching the Gentile believers in Antioch.
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 reveals that believing Pharisees in Jerusalem were the ones insisting on circumcision and law-keeping for Gentile believers.
According to Les Feldick, the Bible never calls the Jewish believers at Jerusalem and Judea 'Christians.' They were under the Judaistic umbrella and had only believed that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel. The believers at Antioch, on the other hand, were hearing Paul's gospel — that Jesus died for them, His blood was shed for their sin, and He had been raised from the dead.
They sent Barnabas. Les says that when tidings came to the assembly in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch because, from their Jewish thinking, Gentiles had no business being brought into relationship with the God of Israel.
They insisted on circumcision. According to Acts 15:1, they said, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." The believing Pharisees who raised the issue in Jerusalem insisted it was needful to circumcise the Gentile believers and command them to keep the law of Moses.
According to Les, Paul and Barnabas were brought from Antioch to Jerusalem because the Jerusalem believers were trying to settle whether Paul could keep teaching that Gentiles could be saved without keeping the law. The Jerusalem church was still based on the law and circumcision, while Paul was teaching the Gentiles the grace of God.
Watch the Teaching: Ishmael vs. Isaac: The Allegory of Law and Grace Explained