Some of the believers from Judea went around telling people that only circumcised people could be saved. Paul and Barnabas dissented and debated them describing the conversion of the Gentiles. The Pharisees insisted that the new believers be circumcised in order to keep the law of Moses to show devotion to the Jewish faith. Peter attested that the Holy Spirit “made no distinction between us and them.”  This was significant because it implied that people could be followers of Jesus without becoming Jews first. James encouraged them to not put an additional yoke upon the new believers, but told them to abstain from things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, and maintain some of the food laws. So the leadership sent Barsabbas and Silas along with Paul and Barnabas to deliver a letter they wrote. It seems like they made a compromise by requiring of some, but not all of the Mosaic laws. It is hard for believers to separate faith from culture. How much of our Christianity is faith in Jesus, and how much is it tied to requiring others to act in accordance with our personal traditions? 

Paul and Barnabas planned a second missions trip. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, but Paul was upset because he had left half-way on their last trip. They argued sharply, so Paul went with Silas, and Barnabas went with John Mark. Barnabas and John Mark went to Cyprus, while Paul and Silas went to Syria and Cilicia.

This section highlights the differences of opinions of leadership in the growing body of believers. In some instances, they were able to come up with a compromise, but in others they were no longer able to work together. Despite their differences, the ministry was able to continue and spread in multiple places. While some persecution comes from outside the church, many conflicts are still within the body of believers.