Excerpts from Books and Wikipedia
James, the brother of Jesus, believed that new Christians must first submit to the laws of Judaism, including circumcision. Christians converted from the Pharisees agreed. Paul taught that Christians could directly enter the new religion. The council of apostles convened in Jerusalem, and Peter (assigned by Jesus as the leader of the church) decided that circumcision was not necessary for conversion. James finally agreed with this ruling. [Furtado: 1001 Days] "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." [King James Bible, Matthew 16: 18]