The strong prejudice already excited because he had not enforced circumcision on the Gentiles, would have led many to take a stand against him. Thus the object of his visit would have been defeated, and his usefulness greatly hindered. But the three leading apostles, against whom no such prejudice existed, having themselves been won to the true position, brought the matter before the council, and won from all a concurrence in the decision to leave the Gentiles free from the obligations of the ceremonial law (Sketches from the Life of Paul, 192, 193).{6BC 1108.4}

De stærke fordomme der allerede eksisterede fordi han ikke havde gennemtvunget omskærelse for hedningene, ville have ledt mange til at sætte sig op imod ham. Således ville formålet med hans besøg have lidt nederlag, og hans nytte stærkt reduceret. Men de tre ledende apostlene, mod hvem sådan fordom ikke eksisterede, er selv blevet vundet til den sande position, satte sig sammen i et råd, og vandt enstemmigt at beslutningen at lade hedningene gå fri fra forpligtelserne mod ceremoniloven. (LP 192, 193).