The question of circumcision was warmly discussed in the assembly. The Gentile converts lived in a community of idolaters. Sacrifices and offerings were made to senseless idols, by these ignorant and superstitious people. The priests of these gods carried on an extensive merchandise with the offerings brought to them; and the Jews feared that the Gentile converts would bring Christianity into disrepute by purchasing those things which had been offered to idols, and thereby sanctioning, in some measure, an idolatrous worship.{LP 65.2}

Omskærelsesspørgsmålet blev varmt diskuteret i forsamlingen. De hedningeomvendte levede i et samfund med afgudsdyrkere. Slagtofre og brændofre blev gjort for sanseløse guder af dette uvidende og overtroiske folk. Præsterne til disse guder drev en omfangsrig købmandshandel med de ofre de fik bragt til sig, og jøderne var bange for at de hedningenomvendte ville bringe kristendommen i vanry ved at købe de ting som var blevet ofret til afguder, og derved anerkende en afgudsdyrkelse i et vist omfang.