Acts 15:20

Acts 15:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

Context of Acts 15:20

18that have been known for ages.’ 19It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 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. 21For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,

Acts 15:20 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τοῦ ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ τῆς πορνείας καὶ τοῦ πνικτοῦ καὶ τοῦ αἵματος.Read the interlinear

• Insteadἀλλάalla · butG235
• we should writeἐπιστέλλωepistellō · to write toG1989
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• to abstain fromἀπέχωapechō · to have in fullG568
• pollutedἀλίσγημαalisgema · defilementG234
• by idolsεἴδωλονeidōlon · idolG1497
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• sexual immoralityπορνείαporneia · sexual sinG4202
• meat of strangled animalsπνικτόςpniktos · strangledG4156
• bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129

Cross-references for Acts 15:20

• 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.
• Genesis 35:2So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.
• Exodus 20:3You shall have no other gods before Me.
• Exodus 34:15Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices.
• Numbers 25:2who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods.
• Psalms 106:37They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
• Ezekiel 20:30Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did, prostituting yourselves with their abominations?
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
• 1 Corinthians 10:20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
• Revelation 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.
• Revelation 9:20Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.
• Revelation 10:2He held in his hand a small scroll, which lay open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.
• 1 Corinthians 5:11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
• 1 Corinthians 6:9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,
• 1 Corinthians 7:2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
• 2 Corinthians 12:21I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

Commentaries on Acts 15:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20But that we write unto them - Four things are prohibited in this decree: Pollutions of idols; fornication; things strangled; blood. By the first, Pollutions of Idols, or, as it is in Acts 15:25, meats offered to idols, not only all idolatry was forbidden, but eating things offered in sacrifice to idols, knowing that they were thus offered, and joining with idolaters in their sacred feasts, which were always an incentive either to idolatry itself, or to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20That we write unto them - Expressing our judgment, or our views of the case. That they abstain - That they refrain from these things, or wholly avoid them. Pollutions of idols - The word rendered “pollutions” means any kind of “defilement.” But here it is evidently used to denote the flesh of those animals that were offered in sacrifice to idols. See Acts 15:29. That flesh, after being offered in sacrifice, was often exposed for sale in the markets, or…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-21Verses 7-21 We see from the words "purifying their hearts by faith," and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences will be purified from the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Eating food offered to idols is sinful when it involves active participation in idol worship (see Exodus 20:4; Deuteronomy 5:8; Revelation 2:14, 20). However, Paul teaches that eating such food is not always wrong in itself. The concern is whether eating causes a fellow believer with a weak conscience to sin (1 Corinthians 8:4–13). Paul also warns against eating at a pagan temple, since that amounts to sharing in idol worship. But he permits eating food…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. But ... that they abstain from pollutions of idols--that is, things polluted by having been offered in sacrifice to idols. The heathen were accustomed to give away or sell portions of such animals. From such food James would enjoin the Gentile converts to abstain, lest it should seem to the Jews that they were not entirely weaned from idolatry. and from fornication--The characteristic sin of heathendom, unblushingly practiced by all ranks and classes…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 15:20

• Adultery
• Antioch
• Blood
• Catholicity
• Chastity
• Church
• Circumcision
• Council
• Doctrines
• Elder
• Gentiles
• Idolatry
• James
• Law
• Strangled
• Titus

In the dictionaries

• Abstain
• Cause
• Choice
• Consider
• Conversion
• Council
• Declare
• Dissension
• Galatians, Epistle to
• James

Commentaries on Acts 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings