Acts 15 20

Acts 15:20 kjv

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Acts 15:20 nkjv

but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

Acts 15:20 niv

Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.

Acts 15:20 esv

but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

Acts 15:20 nlt

Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood.

Acts 15 verses

Acts 15 20 Meaning

This verse details specific prohibitions given by the Jerusalem Council to Gentile believers. It conveys a concise and crucial resolution aiming to foster unity and fellowship between Jewish and Gentile Christians without imposing the full burden of the Mosaic Law for salvation. The injunctions focus on practices that were offensive to Jewish customs deeply rooted in scriptural principles, covering issues of idolatry, moral purity, and reverence for life associated with blood. These guidelines allowed Gentile converts to participate in Christian communities alongside Jewish believers in a harmonious manner.

Acts 15 20 Context

Acts chapter 15 records the significant Jerusalem Council, convened to address a divisive theological dispute: whether Gentile converts to Christianity needed to be circumcised and observe the Law of Moses to be saved. This question, primarily driven by certain believers from the party of the Pharisees (Acts 15:5), caused considerable debate among the early church leaders in Antioch and beyond. After much discussion, Peter, Barnabas, Paul, and James contributed to the resolution. Peter affirmed that God saved Gentiles by grace through faith, just like Jews. James, as the leader of the Jerusalem church, summarized the consensus by referencing Amos 9 and suggesting practical concessions for Gentile believers. Verse 20 is part of James's proposal, which was accepted by the apostles and elders (Acts 15:22). These prohibitions were not prerequisites for salvation but were practical guidelines for healthy fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers, addressing deeply held convictions and potential stumbling blocks, while upholding universal moral principles.

Acts 15 20 Word analysis

• word: but (ἀλλὰ - alla)
  • Indicates a shift in focus or a counterpoint. In this context, it contrasts the imposition of the full Mosaic Law with a simpler, targeted set of requirements.
• words-group: that we write to them (γράψαι αὐτοῖς - grapsai autois)
  • Highlights the authority of the Jerusalem Council in delivering this decree. "Write" implies a formal, recorded decision intended for distribution, emphasizing the importance and binding nature of the resolution.
• word: to abstain (ἀπέχεσθαι - apechesthai)
  • Greek meaning: "to hold oneself off," "to refrain from," "to keep away from."
  • Significance: A strong imperative, denoting a decisive separation from these practices, not merely a recommendation. It signifies a clear boundary for behavior.
• words-group: from things polluted by idols (τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων - tōn alizgēmatōn tōn eidōlōn)
  • Greek meaning: "alizgema" refers to pollution, defilement, often associated with things made unclean or offered to idols. "Eidolon" means idol.
  • Significance: Primarily refers to meat offered to idols, a common practice in pagan worship that Gentile converts would have been exposed to. Consuming such food was viewed by Jewish believers as direct participation in idolatry, violating the First Commandment (Ex 20:3). This wasn't merely a dietary rule but a profound theological and social barrier. It extended beyond simply eating meat, encompassing participation in idolatrous feasts and their associated rites.
• words-group: from sexual immorality (καὶ τῆς πορνείας - kai tēs porneias)
  • Greek meaning: "porneia" is a broad term for illicit sexual activity, including prostitution, fornication, adultery, and other sexual sins.
  • Significance: This prohibition is a universal moral command, deeply embedded in biblical ethics from both Old and New Testaments. While common and often linked with temple prostitution in pagan worship, its condemnation here goes beyond mere cultural sensitivity; it addresses a core ethical principle vital for the holiness and witness of the Christian community. It emphasizes the unchanging moral standards of God.
• words-group: from what is strangled (καὶ τοῦ πνικτοῦ - kai tou pniktou)
  • Greek meaning: "pnikton" refers to something choked or strangled, hence an animal that has not been properly bled.
  • Significance: This practice resulted in meat that retained blood, which was a profound offense to Jewish dietary laws and cultural norms. The Mosaic Law rigorously prohibited consuming blood, rooted in the theological understanding that "the life of the flesh is in the blood" and belonged to God (Lev 17:11). While not directly a universal moral law like sexual immorality, it represented a significant cultural and religious stumbling block for Jewish believers in table fellowship.
• words-group: and from blood (καὶ τοῦ αἵματος - kai tou haimatos)
  • Greek meaning: "haima" means blood.
  • Significance: This prohibition directly refers to the consumption of blood, separate from the meat of a strangled animal. It could involve consuming blood as food or as a drink in certain pagan rituals. It reinforces the ancient, pre-Mosaic injunction against consuming blood, viewing life as sacred and belonging to God alone (Gen 9:4). For Jews, blood had sacred significance as the element of life and atonement. Its consumption was an absolute taboo, crucial for maintaining table fellowship.

Acts 15 20 Bonus section

These four prohibitions chosen by the Jerusalem Council represent categories that were crucial for distinguishing early Christians from their pagan environment and for facilitating unity between Jewish and Gentile believers. The prohibitions against food offered to idols and consuming blood (including strangled animals) had deep roots in Old Testament practices and the unique identity of God's people. In the Greco-Roman world, these specific areas often intersected with daily life, pagan cults, and social interactions, making these specific abstentions vital for the fledgling multi-ethnic church. While not explicit "Noachide Laws," they bear resemblance to universally applicable moral standards found in Genesis 9, affirming that Gentiles were held to certain ethical norms foundational to all humanity, even prior to the Mosaic covenant. The decision highlights that Christian liberty is always exercised in love and consideration for the community's welfare and witness, ensuring the growth and harmonious functioning of God's family.

Acts 15 20 Commentary

Acts 15:20 encapsulates the pragmatic wisdom of the Jerusalem Council in addressing a critical inter-cultural tension within the early church. By articulating these four prohibitions, the council provided clear, concise, and manageable guidelines for Gentile converts that fostered unity without compromising fundamental ethical or spiritual truths. The commands concerning "things polluted by idols" and "blood/strangled animals" primarily served to facilitate fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers, addressing practices deeply offensive to Jewish consciences rooted in ancient biblical law and customs. They were not conditions for salvation but rather practical expressions of love and respect for brothers in Christ (Rom 14). The prohibition against "sexual immorality," however, stands as an unwavering universal moral imperative, applicable to all believers, regardless of their background, reflecting God's eternal standard for holiness. The resolution allowed Gentile Christians to be fully accepted into the body of Christ based on faith, while sensitively addressing cultural and theological distinctives that, if ignored, would have severely hampered the spread of the gospel to the Jews and led to division.