b. The letter was a decree to the early church, specifically, gentiles seeking to become Christians. It specifically addressed the problem of whether they must first convert to Judaism, or otherwise abide by the Jewish Laws. The completed letter containing the decision of the council was sent to Antioch.
c. Paul and Barnabas were on missionary trips in gentile areas when a debate arose in Antioch because some men were claiming that the gentiles must follow all the Jewish laws before they could become Christians. Paul and Barnabas disagreed with this teaching and a debate arose, which was later presented to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for formal debate. This was known as the Council of Jerusalem.
d. Paul and Barnabas took the news, or the letter of the Council, back to Antioch.
e. The decisions contained in the letter fundamentally determined the development of the early church and thereby Christianity as a whole. The apostles and elders at the Council of Jerusalem determined that those wishing to convert to Christianity need only to, �abstain from meat that had been offered to idols, from blood, from anything that has been strangled, and from fornication.� Because these were the only �essential burdens� laid upon them, this meant that gentiles need not convert to Judaism or follow all of the Jewish Laws in order to be Christians. This decidedly shifted the focus and development of the church towards the gentiles, and greatly influenced the church that exists today.