Early church & faith: My friends, I don't think we should place burdens on the Gentiles who are turning to God. Acts 15:19

The Book of Acts relates that during the early days of the primitive Church, until the beginning of Paul's missionary journeys, converts to the new faith were primarily Jews. It was logical in this context that many Christians thought that circumcision and acceptance of the Law of Moses were necessary to enter the Church.
And this fact was what inexorably led the Church to the first council held in Jerusalem, because the danger of a schism and the creation of opposing factions was close, and this in an institution guided by the Holy Spirit was unacceptable. It must be remembered that heresies and factions, as Paul taught in his epistle to the Galatians, are works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).
The Book of Acts relates that Paul and Barnabas had finished their first missionary journey and, upon arriving in Antioch, encountered some teachers who demanded circumcision, which caused a great uproar in the Church. This led to Paul and Barnabas being invited to discuss this issue with the apostles in Jerusalem.
Upon arriving in the city, the apostles and presbyters began their deliberations in the first council of the Church. The apostle Peter gave his testimony about faith and the gifts of the holy spirit, explaining that salvation came through the grace of Jesus. But ultimately, the criterion that prevailed was that of the apostle James, who said: "My friends, I don't think we should place burdens on the Gentiles who are turning to God" Acts 15:19. With this, James prevented the law of Moses from becoming mandatory for pagans converted to the faith, and then gave a series of simple recommendations to avoid falling into sin. The Council of Jerusalem considered James's exposition as an inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and thus the doors of the Church were opened to the mass conversion of pagans, forever changing the destiny of the early Church. As Jesus had prophesied when he preached in Galilee, his message would be received by a flock that was not Israel, and with the council, this prophecy began to take shape, bringing the faith and the gospel to all corners of the world.

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