Jerusalem was the metropolis of the Jews, and it was there that the greatest exclusiveness and bigotry were found. The Jewish Christians living within sight of the temple naturally allowed their minds to revert to the peculiar privileges of the Jews as a nation. When they saw the Christian church departing from the ceremonies and traditions of Judaism, and perceived that the peculiar sacredness with which the Jewish customs had been invested would soon be lost sight of in the light of the new faith, many grew indignant with Paul as the one who had, in a large measure, caused this change. Even the disciples were not all prepared to accept willingly the decision of the council. Some were zealous for the ceremonial law, and they regarded Paul with disfavor because they thought that his principles in regard to the obligations of the Jewish law were lax.

Jerusalem var jødernes hovedstad, og det var der, man mødte den største eksklusivitet og fanatisme. De jødekristne, som stadig havde templet for øje, tillod ganske naturligt deres tanker at vende tilbage til jødernes særlige rettigheder som folk. Da de så den kristne menighed forlade ceremonierne og de jødiske traditioner og opdagede at den særegne ophøjethed, som havde omgivet jødedommens skikke, snart ville svinde bort i lyset af den nye tro, harmedes mange på Paulus som den, der stort set havde forvoldt denne forandring. Ikke engang alle disciplene var beredt til villigt at godkende rådets afgørelse. Nogle holdt fanatisk fast ved ceremoniloven; og de misbilligede Paulus optræden, fordi de mente, at hans principper var slappe med hensyn til den jødiske lovs forpligtelser.