Acts 21 25

Acts 21:25 kjv

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Acts 21:25 nkjv

But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality."

Acts 21:25 niv

As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality."

Acts 21:25 esv

But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality."

Acts 21:25 nlt

"As for the Gentile believers, they should do what we already told them in a letter: They should abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality."

Acts 21 verses

Acts 21 25 Meaning

This verse succinctly reiterates the Jerusalem Council's decision (from Acts 15) regarding Gentile converts. It clarifies that Gentile believers are not obligated to observe the ritualistic aspects of the Mosaic Law, such as circumcision, but are to abstain from four specific practices: consuming food sacrificed to idols, ingesting blood, eating animals that were strangled (thus retaining their blood), and engaging in sexual immorality. This decree aimed to ensure purity, promote unity and fellowship between Jewish and Gentile Christians, and uphold foundational moral principles for the early church.

Acts 21 25 Context

Acts 21:25 appears during Paul’s final recorded visit to Jerusalem, approximately 14 years after the Jerusalem Council's initial decree documented in Acts 15. Paul has returned, facing accusations from some zealous Jewish believers who falsely claimed he was teaching Jews to abandon the Mosaic Law, including circumcision. The church leaders, including James, acknowledged these rumors. To demonstrate his respect for Jewish customs and the Law's legitimate place for Jewish Christians, they proposed that Paul participate in a ritual vow with four other Jewish believers. In this very conversation, to reaffirm the earlier agreement and assure Paul of their continued stance, James explicitly reminds him of the standing decree concerning Gentile believers. This reminder reinforces that while Jewish Christians might continue to observe certain traditions, Gentile believers are explicitly free from those ritual burdens, only needing to adhere to the previously decided core ethical guidelines. This decree was not about re-imposing the Law, but about enabling unity, avoiding unnecessary offense, and facilitating genuine fellowship, especially around shared meals, between Jewish and Gentile segments of the early church.

Acts 21 25 Word analysis

• But concerning the Gentiles: The Greek for "Gentiles" is ethnōn (ἐθνῶν), meaning "nations" or "peoples," specifically non-Jewish populations. This distinction highlights the core issue in the early church: how non-Jews are included in God's people without fully adopting the Mosaic Law.
• who believe: The Greek pepisteukotōn (πεπιστευκότων), a perfect active participle, denotes a settled, continuous state of faith. It clarifies that these are genuine converts to Christ, now part of the Christian community, and subject to apostolic guidance.
• we have written and decided: This translates to a past tense referring to a completed action. It points directly to the authoritative apostolic decree formalized and dispatched after the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:23-29. "Written" emphasizes the formal, documented nature and authority of the decision. "Decided" (from krinō) highlights the act of judicial determination made by the apostles and elders, setting a clear precedent for the early church.
• that they should observe no such thing: The Greek phrase mēden pros heterois tērein (μηδὲν πρὸς ἑτέροις τηρεῖν) indicates that Gentiles are not obligated to observe "other things" of the Law (referring to ceremonial practices like circumcision, sabbath observance, or extensive dietary laws). This statement affirms Christian liberty and salvation by grace through faith, a foundational New Testament teaching (e.g., Gal 2:16, Eph 2:8-9).
• except to keep themselves from things offered to idols: The Greek tōn eidōlothytōn (τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων) refers to "idol sacrifices" or "things sacrificed to idols." This prohibition was critical: to prevent participation in pagan worship (often considered communion with demons, 1 Cor 10:20-21), to avoid offending the consciences of Jewish believers, and to signify a decisive break from their idolatrous past for Gentile converts.
• from blood: The Greek haimatos (αἵματος). This prohibition has ancient roots (Gen 9:4), reiterated in the Mosaic Law (Lev 17:10-14, Deut 12:23-25). Blood symbolized life itself, which was sacred to God and primarily reserved for atonement. Its consumption was seen as a profound violation of divine sanctity and life's sacredness.
• from things strangled: The Greek pniktou (πνικτοῦ). This refers to an animal killed without its blood being properly drained. Consuming such an animal would mean ingesting its retained blood. Therefore, this prohibition served as a practical application of the deeper injunction against consuming blood, important for maintaining purity and respecting Jewish customs.
• and from sexual immorality: The Greek porneias (πορνείας). This is a comprehensive term for all illicit sexual conduct (fornication, adultery, incest, prostitution, homosexuality). Unlike the other three which carried strong cultural or ceremonial implications, this prohibition is a universal moral law rooted in God's nature and found consistently throughout both the Old (Lev 18) and New Testaments (1 Cor 6:18, Eph 5:3). Its inclusion emphasizes that while ritualistic burdens are lifted, fundamental moral holiness remains central for all Christian believers.

Acts 21 25 Bonus section

The four stipulations of the decree (idol food, blood, strangled animals, sexual immorality) have been observed by scholars to often align with the concept of "Noachian laws" which, in Jewish tradition, were considered universal ethical standards given to all humanity before the Mosaic Law. These are not explicitly named in the Bible as "Noachian laws," but the prohibitions reflect foundational ethical principles already present in the Scriptures before the Law of Moses. The inclusion of these particular items demonstrates a profound sensitivity towards ensuring respectful coexistence and authentic fellowship within a rapidly expanding and diverse church. These guidelines established boundaries for conduct that allowed Jews and Gentiles, with their deeply ingrained cultural and religious differences, to share table fellowship and worship without continually causing offense or compromising moral standards that transcend cultural variations, rooted instead in the very nature of God and creation.

Acts 21 25 Commentary

Acts 21:25 provides a critical summary, affirming the unity and doctrinal clarity achieved by the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). It decisively addresses the inclusion of Gentiles in the church, clarifying that salvation for them is by grace through faith, not by adherence to the Mosaic Law's ceremonial requirements. This affirmation safeguards Christian liberty, yet wisely sets practical, ethical boundaries. The four prohibitions are not a re-imposition of the entire Law but represent essential guidelines for the burgeoning multi-cultural church. The directives regarding food sacrificed to idols, blood, and strangled animals were crucial for fostering fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers by respecting long-held Jewish sensitivities and ensuring Gentiles made a clear break from paganism. The prohibition against sexual immorality, however, is a fundamental moral absolute, consistently taught throughout Scripture, applying to all people and emphasizing the universal call to holiness in Christ. This verse perfectly illustrates the church’s commitment to theological truth (salvation by grace) lived out with practical wisdom and love, preserving both Christian freedom and corporate purity, preventing sin while promoting harmony.