Acts 15:1

“Before certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.”

Addresses the influence of those from James causing division

“Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.””

Mirrors the Pharisaical party's insistence on circumcision

“Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.”

Deals with the unnecessary imposition of circumcision

“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.”

Shows the initial astonishment at Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit without circumcision

“For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.”

Warns about those of the 'circumcision group' causing trouble