A common interpretation is that the council came together because there was disagreement within the Early Christian community between those who believed the church must observe the rules of traditional Judaism , and Paul of Tarsus , who believed there was no such necessity . The dispute was between those , such as the followers of the `` Pillars of the Church , '' led by James , who believed , following his interpretation of the Great Commission , that the church must observe the Torah , i.e. the rules of traditional Judaism , and Paul of Tarsus , who believed there was no such necessity .