The apostle Paul and Barnabas:
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.-Acts 15:1-12***Paul (Saul) was an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin, and Barnabas was an Israelite from the tribe of Levi. Paul and Barnabas were circumcised when they were 8 days old, according to the covenant of circumcision that the Lord God gave their ancestor Abraham (Abram the Hebrew) when Abraham was 99 years old. Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, was born into the tribe of Judah to Joseph and his wife Mary, a virgin, after being conceived of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) in Mary's womb when Mary was a virgin. On the 8th day after Jesus was born, Jesus was circumcised. At least 40 days after Jesus was born, Joseph, Mary and Jesus were in Jerusalem and sacrifices were offered, according to the laws that the Lord God gave Moses for the Israelites over 1,400 years earlier. Approximately 30 years after Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by Mary's relative John the Baptist, from the tribe of Levi. Jesus having prayed, the heavens tearing open, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove and lit upon Jesus. The Lord God in heaven audibly acknowledged his Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert wilderness. Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights and was tempted. Afterwards, Jesus was tended to by angels, and Jesus went to the area near John the Baptist, and John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus to be the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world. In Galilee, Jesus told specific Israelite men to follow him, and Jesus began to preach, teach and perform miracles among the Israelites, the treasured and chosen people of the Lord God. Less than 3 1/2 years after Jesus was baptized. Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, the disciple and apostle, and Jesus was arrested, crucified, buried in a tomb, resurrected, seen by over 500 people, and returned to heaven. Sometime thereafter, Barnabas placed a sum of money in front of the apostles who had followed Jesus and had been sent by Jesus on a preaching and healing mission among the Israelites. Meanwhile, throughout Jerusalem, Paul was persecuting and imprisoning Israelites who believed Jesus to be the Christ. When Paul was journeying to the synagogues in Damascus, Syria, to find, bind and take to Jerusalem any Israelite believers he found, Paul and those with him saw a light from heaven flash around them. Paul heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him, and Paul spoke to Jesus and obeyed Jesus. In Damascus, Paul was baptized. Jesus told Paul to share the message of Christ with Gentiles, people not born into the Israelite tribes. The Israelite believers in Jerusalem did not trust Paul. Thus, Barnabas stood with Paul and described Paul's new life in Christ. In Antioch of Pisidia, after speaking to the Israelites, Paul and Barnabas explained the good news of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. As Paul and Barnabas continued journeying and delivering the message of Christ, concerns steadily arose among the Israelites about the Gentile believers.-Genesis 11:26-50:26, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers 20:1-29, 27:12-23, Deuteronomy 31:1-30, 32:44-52, 34:1-12, Joshua 1:1-4:24, 1 Chronicles 1:1-34, 2:1-17, 3:1-24, 6:1-81, 8:1-40, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans 11:1-36, 15:1-33, Galatians 1:1-2:21, Ephesians 3:1-21, 1 Timothy 2:1-15, 2 Timothy 1:1-18, 4:1-22
Reference Scriptures: While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.-Acts 10:44-45