Acts 15 29

Acts 15:29 kjv

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Acts 15:29 nkjv

that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

Acts 15:29 niv

You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

Acts 15:29 esv

that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."

Acts 15:29 nlt

You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell."

Acts 15 verses

Acts 15 29 Meaning

This verse contains key instructions issued by the Jerusalem Council to Gentile believers, aimed at fostering fellowship and avoiding offense to Jewish Christians. It specifies four areas of abstinence: from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meat of strangled animals (which retains blood), and from sexual immorality. Adherence to these practices is presented as beneficial for their conduct and community harmony.

Acts 15 29 Context

Acts chapter 15 records the significant Jerusalem Council, convened to address a pressing theological and practical issue: whether Gentile converts to Christianity must be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law to be saved. This question arose from certain Jewish believers insisting on such requirements, causing significant contention, particularly in Antioch where Paul and Barnabas ministered. The Council, attended by apostles and elders, deliberated extensively. Peter eloquently affirmed salvation by grace through faith for both Jews and Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas shared testimonies of God's work among Gentiles. James, the leader of the Jerusalem church, then presented a solution based on scriptural prophecy and pastoral wisdom. His proposed decree, affirmed by the Council, declared that Gentile converts were not required to be circumcised but should abstain from these four specific practices to facilitate fellowship and peace between Jewish and Gentile believers and for the moral uprightness expected of followers of Christ. This specific verse (15:29) lists the finalized prohibitions that were subsequently conveyed in a letter to the Gentile churches.

Acts 15 29 Word analysis

• that you abstain (ἀπέχεσθαι - apechesthai): A verb meaning to hold oneself off, to keep away from, to refrain from. It indicates a deliberate act of self-restraint and discipline, emphasizing conscious avoidance.
• from what has been sacrificed to idols (εἰδωλοθύτων - eidolothyton): Refers to meat that has been offered to pagan deities in sacrifices. This was a significant point of contention as eating such meat could imply participation in pagan worship, and often involved attendance at idol temples, which Jewish believers found abhorrent. While New Testament theology (e.g., 1 Cor 8) affirms that idols are nothing, partaking could defile conscience or cause weaker brothers to stumble, or imply association with pagan ritual in the eyes of others.
• and from blood (καὶ τοῦ αἵματος - kai tou haimatos): This prohibition, deeply rooted in Old Testament law (Gen 9:4; Lev 17:10-14), was profoundly significant to Jews. Blood represents life itself, and its consumption was strictly forbidden, being reserved for atonement on the altar. Its inclusion here addresses a fundamental Jewish aversion and underscores the seriousness of avoiding practices considered sacrilegious.
• and from what has been strangled (καὶ τοῦ πνικτοῦ - kai tou pniktou): Refers to meat from animals that have been killed by strangulation. The critical aspect here is that the blood is not properly drained from the animal. Therefore, this prohibition is closely related to the prohibition against consuming blood, as strangulation leaves the blood within the flesh, violating the Jewish dietary laws.
• and from sexual immorality (καὶ τῆς πορνείας - kai tēs porneias): A broad Greek term encompassing various forms of illicit sexual activity, including fornication, adultery, prostitution, and sometimes, incest or sexual acts associated with pagan worship (e.g., temple prostitution). While the first three points deal with matters particularly offensive to Jewish sensibilities (often tied to pagan feasts), porneia is a universal moral injunction, though often interwoven with idolatrous practices in the Greco-Roman world (cf. Rev 2:14, 20).
• If you keep yourselves from these (ἐξ ὧν διατηροῦντες ἑαυτούς - ex hōn diatērountes heautous): Emphasizes a continued, careful guarding of oneself from these specified actions. It implies an ongoing discipline and adherence to the decree.
• you will do well (εὖ πράξετε - eu praxete): Means to act well, fare well, or do good. This is a positive affirmation, indicating that their obedience to these guidelines will result in beneficial outcomes for themselves and their community, contributing to harmonious fellowship and the integrity of their Christian walk, not as a condition for salvation.
• Farewell (ἔρρωσθε - errōsthe): A standard closing in ancient Greek letters, equivalent to "be strong," "be well," or simply "goodbye." It conveys a wish for their welfare and serves as a formal epistolary conclusion.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled": These three prohibitions largely address dietary practices and issues related to pagan worship, which were significant cultural and religious stumbling blocks between Jewish and Gentile believers. They reflect Old Testament purity laws and specific Jewish aversion to blood and participation in idolatry, common in Gentile society.
• "and from sexual immorality": While related to pagan culture (where porneia was widespread and often temple-related), this stands as a distinct universal moral requirement, foundational to Christian ethics. Its inclusion highlights that the council was addressing not only matters of custom and cultural sensitivity but also core moral tenets common to all believers.
• "If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well": This phrase indicates the practical purpose of the decree. It's not a new salvific law, but rather a wise directive for godly living that promotes harmony, avoids offense, and facilitates unity within the nascent church, allowing the Gospel to spread effectively across diverse cultures. The "well-doing" refers to proper conduct and effective witness.

Acts 15 29 Bonus section

The four prohibitions found in Acts 15:29 are sometimes seen as an apostolic interpretation of universal moral guidelines or "Noahide Laws" (from Genesis 9), which traditional Judaism holds are binding upon all humanity. While the term "Noahide Laws" isn't explicitly used, the principles—particularly the prohibition against consuming blood and against specific immoral acts (which porneia can encompass broadly)—align with aspects attributed to them. This perspective highlights the decree's foundational nature, not merely as temporary cultural accommodation but as drawing on principles with a broader application for human conduct. The phrase "it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us" (Acts 15:28) underscores the divine guidance behind these decisions, marking them as more than mere human compromise. These requirements effectively cleared the way for the robust spread of the Gospel to Gentiles, establishing a model for addressing inter-cultural challenges within the church.

Acts 15 29 Commentary

Acts 15:29 presents the pragmatic, Spirit-guided resolution of the Jerusalem Council, allowing Gentile believers full inclusion in the Church without necessitating circumcision or full adherence to Mosaic Law. The four listed prohibitions served as minimal ethical and dietary boundaries essential for peaceful fellowship between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Abstinence from food offered to idols and meat containing blood (including strangled animals) directly addressed long-standing Jewish religious sensitivities and the deep-seated abhorrence of idolatry and the improper treatment of life's essence (blood). The injunction against sexual immorality reinforced universal Christian ethical standards that contrasted sharply with widespread pagan licentiousness. This decree facilitated Christian unity by removing unnecessary cultural burdens while upholding fundamental moral truths, emphasizing brotherly love and avoidance of causing fellow believers to stumble, rather than prescribing additional requirements for salvation.