In the church at Antioch the consideration of the question of circumcision resulted in much discussion and contention. Finally, the members of the church, fearing that a division among them would be the outcome of continued discussion, decided to send Paul and Barnabas, with some responsible men from the church, to Jerusalem to lay the matter before the apostles and elders. There they were to meet delegates from the different churches and those who had come to Jerusalem to attend the approaching festivals. Meanwhile all controversy was to cease until a final decision should be given in general council. This decision was then to be universally accepted by the different churches throughout the country.

Indenfor menigheden i Antiokia medførte de forskellige synspunkter med hensyn til spørgsmålet om omskærelse megen strid og uenighed. Til sidst besluttede menigheden, som frygtede for, at en fortsat ordstrid skulle føre til splittelse blandt dem, at sende Paulus og Barnabas sammen med nogle af menighedens ansvarshavende mænd til Jerusalem for at forelægge apostlene og de ældste sagen. Der skulle de mødes med repræsentanter for de forskellige menigheder og dem, der var kommet til Jerusalem for at overvære de forestående højtider. I mellemtiden skulle al strid ophøre, indtil en endelig afgørelse blev truffet på et fællesmøde. Denne afgørelse skulle så være bindende overalt i de forskellige menigheder i hele landet.