The Council of Jerusalem was one of the most important events in the early history of the church. Theology and doctrine do matter, and it was vital that the church got this right in for it to continue to grow. The issue at stake was whether or not Gentile believers needed to be circumcised, and the issue crops up many times in Paul's letters.
To most of us it seems a silly matter, but we need to remember that the church grew out of Judaism, and that the Old Testament explicitly commanded that Jews be circumcised. So if someone was to be a full member of God's family then they needed to be circumcised, or so the argument of some went.
Paul and Barnabas were strongly against this. The issue erupted in Antioch and elsewhere, and it was decided to send a party, including Paul and Barnabas, to Jerusalem to get things sorted out with the apostles and elders.
Even on their way they told many people about the new believers, and it gladdened many people. In Jerusalem the church and its leaders welcomed them. Luke is stressing that the amen Jerusalem church was in favour of the eventual outcome.
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