(2/3 part post) - the last part is further down the page

Back then circumcision was the surface issue, but the Council saw it fundamentally as a gospel issue. And the gospel was about fulfilment of the Law in Jesus. And if you understand Jesus; love for one another.

If a person was circumcised or not didn't matter, so those who wanted to carry on the practice could, and those who wouldn't find it significant to their faith were not required to. 
One can expect that there were many from the law end of faith expression who wouldn't appreciate such freedom. After all wasn't circumcision an eternal sign between God and his people? And who has the right to tamper with Gods law!? . . . I'm sure some continued to persecute the free. 
Interesting too that the Council asked the Gentiles to not eat food sacrificed to idols, yet a reading of Paul indicates that even this wasn't a blanket rule. He was happy to eat food sacrificed to idols just so long as it didn't offend someone weak in faith.