The number one issue of the early church was knowing how to handle the earth-shaking idea that Jesus’ salvation and welcome into The Kingdom of God was not just for Jews, but Gentiles too. Much of the story of Acts is the unfolding of the realization, as well as the realization that much of what had been the identifying markers of God’s people (temple, land, and law) was passing away.
Verse 2—disagreement is an important part of truth telling. The early church was not marked by universal unity on all issues. Paul and Barnabas had convictions that they willing to stand up for and debate.
Verse 19—“We should not make it difficult for Gentiles who are turning to God.” I wish that were the motto of more churches!
Verse 20—There’s some irony here in that this rule on abstaining from food “polluted by idols” (i.e. meat that was sacrificed at a pagan temple and then sold at a market) would later be argued against by Paul.