Debate over whether circumcision was required or not.

Acts 15:1-3

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“And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Acts 15: 1

While in Antioch at Syria, Paul and Barnabas were sharing how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, through Jesus Christ. Conflict found Paul and Barnabas for sharing about that. People from Judea, who embraced the laws of Judaism, told the new converts, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” On the map below, you can see the distance from Judea to Antioch at Syria. Judaea is seen to the bottom of the map and Antioch towards the top.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we know the lengths the people of today’s atheistic culture will go to oppose the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No travel is necessary to catch up to those sharing the testimony of Jesus. The beast with power over physiology that gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel, synchronizes people from city to city around the world. Their common theme is to oppose belief in God, scoff at the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, and to oppress the presence of the Holy Spirit.

In the days of Paul’s ministry, circumcision was used as a branding tool to mark those faithful to the laws of Judaism from those who served Jesus Christ. Those who were circumcised were considered to be under the rule of the Pharisees and other such Jewish leaders. Those who served God through Jesus Christ were considered to be blasphemous and enemies of God.

Circumcision was initially given to Abraham as a reminder that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars of the skies. “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly…and you will be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” Genesis 17:2, 11 The coming of Jesus Christ fulfilled the promise of the covenant, so circumcision is no longer necessary, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29 To command that people carry on with the practice of circumcision is to deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham.

“Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.” Acts 15:2

Paul and Barnabas were preaching and teaching that faith in Jesus Christ brought Salvation in agreement with God’s will. Circumcision has nothing to do with the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul and Barnabas had a pretty huge disagreement with the Jewish men who insisted that circumcision and the laws of Moses were necessary to be in the will of God. For that reason, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some Gentile believers would go to the Chrisitan leaders in Jerusalem to have the matter decided. Those Christian leaders included the original Apostles of Jesus Christ, such as Peter and James.

“So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.” Acts 15:3

As seen on the map below, Paul and his companions left from Antioch at Syria, preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Phoenicia, went to Samaria and shared the Gospel of Christ again, then came to their destination at Jerusalem.

Being sent to Jerusalem, with a send-off by the fellowship of Believers, Paul, Barnabas, and some born-again Gentiles passed through Phoenicia and Samaria. Phoenicia was about the place of the foothills of Lebanon, the northern part of Israel of today, Samaria being south from there. These cities were predominantly Gentiles, by the judgment of the Jewish leaders. Paul and Barnabas were describing the born-again experience of the Gentiles [without circumcision], who were right there by their side. By the sharing of that Good News, great joy was felt among fellow Believers in those Gentile cities.

“…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:29

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11