This was an important question, and one which affected the church in a very great degree. Paul and Barnabas met it with promptness, and opposed introducing the subject to the Gentiles. They were opposed in this by the believing Jews of Antioch, who favored the position of those from Judea. The matter resulted in much discussion and want of harmony in the church, until finally the church of Antioch, apprehending that a division among them would occur from any further discussion of the question, decided to send Paul and Barnabas, together with some responsible men of Antioch, 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 attend the approaching annual festivals. Meanwhile all controversy was to cease until a final decision should be made by the responsible men of the church. This decision was then to be universally accepted by the various churches throughout the country.{LP 63.2}

Dette var et vigtigt spørgsmål, og noget der påvirkede menigheden i meget stor grad. Paulus og Barnabas imødekom det omgående, og modsatte sig at denne emne skulle introduceres for hedningene. Her mødte de modstand fra de troende jøder i Antiokia, som foretrak standpunktet fra dem fra Judæa. Dette førte til megen diskussion og manglende overensstemmelse i menigheden, indtil Antiokia-menigheden til sidst, i frygt for splittelse iblandt dem vil føre til endnu mere diskussion og tvivlsspørgsmål, besluttede at sende Paulus og Barnabas, sammen med de ansvarlige i Antiokia, til Jerusalem, og lægge sagen frem for apostlene og de ældste. De skulle møde de delegerede fra forskellige menigheder, og dem som var kommet for at deltage i de kommende årlige fester. Imidlertid skulle al strid ophøre, indtil en endelig beslutning var taget af de ansvarlige mænd i menigheden. Denne beslutning skulle accepteres af alle i de forskellige menigheder ud over landet.