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Acts 21:25

in Acts 21

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

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication.

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.

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This verse in Acts 21

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bede

Retractions on Acts · Written before 735.

About those who believed from among the Gentiles, we wrote judging that they abstain from idols, sacrifices, etc. In Greek, it is more clearly stated: About those who believed among men, we wrote judging that they observe no such thing, except they keep themselves from …

This site's exposition

keep themselves from things offered to idols

As touching the Gentiles which believe, James restates the four provisions the Jerusalem council had already written and concluded, that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication, a deliberate reminder that nothing new is being asked of Paul’s Gentile converts even as something particular is being asked of Paul himself. The repetition underlines that two different pastoral situations, Gentile believers and Jewish believers zealous for the law, are being honored on their own terms rather than flattened into one rule for all. Nothing in the request touches the gospel of grace by faith that Paul had preached and the council had ratified.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 46 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"What then," he might say, "if the Gentiles should learn it? I shall injure them." How so? say they, seeing that even we, the teachers of the Jews, have sent unto them. "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." Here with a kind of remonstrance, as "we," say they, commanded them, although we are preachers to the Jews, so do thou, although a preacher to the Gentiles, cooperate with us. Observe Paul: he does not say, "Well, but I can bring forward Timothy, whom I circumcised: well, but I can satisfy them by what I have to say of myself:" but he complied, and did all: for in fact thus was it expedient to do. The party of James distinctly admits that adherence to the legal ceremonies is not required of the Gentile Christians; it is equally important to notice that Paul yielded to the advice to take this view, as a concession in a matter of indifference, since he was living for the time as a Jew among Jews, that he might give no needless offence and might win the more. It was not a compromise, but an expedient concession to convictions and prejudices which it was not wise or necessary to oppose or increase.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

And for fear that he should say, "If the Gentiles learn this, they will be scandalized," they therefore add: "As for the Gentile believers, we wrote," he says, "commanding them to observe nothing of that sort." Just as then we imposed upon them, although preaching …

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

As we give instructions to the Gentiles, although we preach to the Jews, so also you cooperate with us, although you preach to the Gentiles. Do not be afraid, it is a matter of condescension.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

As touching the Gentiles which believe,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Here is Paul's compliance with it. He was willing to gratify them in this matter. Though he would not be persuaded not to go to Jerusalem, yet, when he was there, he was persuaded to do as they there did,
4 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century4 voices

As touching the Gentiles - In regard to the Gentile converts. It might be expedient for Paul to do what could not be enjoined on the Gentiles. They could not command the Gentile converts to observe those ceremonies, while yet it might be proper, for the sake of peace, that the converts to Christianity from among the Jews should regard them. The conduct of the Christians at Jerusalem in giving this advice, and of Paul in following it, may be easily vindicated.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

they glorified the Lord, &c.--constrained to justify his course, notwithstanding the Jewish complexion of the Christianity of Jerusalem.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

touching the Gentiles . . . we have written and concluded that they observe no such things, &c.--This shows that with all their conciliation to Jewish prejudice, the Church of Jerusalem was taught to adhere to the decision of the famous council held there (Ac 15:19-29).

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

As touching the Gentiles - See the notes on Acts 15:1-21 (note), and the additional observations at the end of that chapter.

The words behind it

19 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • περὶConcerning

    periG4012 →332 times

  • δὲnow

    deG1161 →2765 times

  • τῶνthose

    tonG3588 →19766 times

  • πεπιστευκότωνhaving believed

    pepisteukotonG4100 →237 times

  • ἐθνῶνof the Gentiles

    ethnonG1484 →161 times

  • ἡμεῖςwe ourselves

    hemeisG3165 →1936 times

  • ἐπεστείλαμενwrote to

    epesteilamenG1989 →

  • κρίναντεςhaving adjudged

    krinantesG2919 →114 times

  • φυλάσσεσθαιto keep from

    phulassesthaiG5442 →31 times

  • αὐτοὺςthem

    autousG846 →5565 times

  • τόthe

    toG3588 →19766 times

  • τεboth

    teG5037 →213 times

  • εἰδωλόθυτονidol-sacrifices

    eidolothutonG1494 →

  • καὶand

    kaiG2532 →9120 times

  • αἷμαblood

    haimaG129 →97 times

  • καὶand

    kaiG2532 →9120 times

  • πνικτὸνwhat is strangled

    pniktonG4156 →3 times

  • καὶand

    kaiG2532 →9120 times

  • πορνείαν.¶sexual immorality.

    porneianG4202 →25 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

9 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 15:29You must 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.11 works1 Timothy 4:4For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,7 worksActs 15:20Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.5 worksRevelation 2:14But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.5 worksActs 15:19–20It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.3 worksActs 15:23and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.2 works
The other 3 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Corinthians 9:21To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.2 works1 Corinthians 8:1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.2 worksEzekiel 33:25Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You eat meat with the blood in it, lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land?2 works

The walk

5 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Acts 15:29

    You must 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.

    it leads to

    • Acts 15:20

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

    • Revelation 2:20

      But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

    • Revelation 2:14

      But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food…

    • Leviticus 17:14

      For the life of all flesh is its blood. Therefore I have told the Israelites, ‘You must not eat the blood of any living thing, because the life of all flesh is its blood;…

    • 1 Corinthians 10:18–20

      Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 21 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Retractions on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 46; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 21 →