When the Christians of Antioch are concerned over whether Gentile Christians need be circumcised to be saved , and they send Paul and Barnabas to confer with the Jerusalem church there , James played a prominent role in the formulation of the council 's decision ( 15:13 ff ) . When the Christians of Antioch were concerned over whether Gentile Christians need be circumcised to be saved , they sent Paul and Barnabas to confer with the Jerusalem church . James played a prominent role in the formulation of the council 's decision ( Acts 15:13 ff ) .