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

18known from eternity. 19Wherefore I judge, not to trouble those who from the nations turn to God; but to write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses, from generations of old, has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. 22Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, with the whole assembly, to send chosen men from among them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, Judas called Barsabas and Silas, leading men among the brethren,

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

• abstainἀπέχωapechō · to have in fullG568
• idolsεἴδωλονeidōlon · idolG1497
• bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129

Cross-references for Acts 15:20

• Acts 15:29to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication; keeping yourselves from which ye will do well. Farewell.
• Genesis 35:2And Jacob said to his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and cleanse yourselves, and change your garments;
• Exodus 20:3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
• Exodus 34:15lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and then, when they go a whoring after their gods, and sacrifice unto their gods, thou be invited, and eat of their sacrifice,
• Numbers 25:2And they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods.
• Psalms 106:37And they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,
• Ezekiel 20:30Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Do ye defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and do ye commit fornication after their abominations?
• 1 Corinthians 8:1But concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know, (for we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
• 1 Corinthians 10:20But that what [the nations] sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. Now I do not wish you to be in communion with demons.
• Revelation 2:14But I have a few things against thee: that thou hast there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a snare before the sons of Israel, to eat [of] idol sacrifices and commit fornication.
• Revelation 9:20And the rest of men who were not killed with these plagues repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the golden and silver and brazen and stone and wooden idols, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.
• Revelation 10:2and having in his hand a little opened book. And he set his right foot on the sea, and the left upon the earth,
• 1 Corinthians 5:11But now I have written to you, if any one called brother be fornicator, or avaricious, or idolater, or abusive, or a drunkard, or rapacious, not to mix with [him]; with such a one not even to eat.
• 1 Corinthians 6:9Do ye not know that unrighteous [persons] shall not inherit [the] kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who make women of themselves, nor who abuse themselves with men,
• 1 Corinthians 7:2but on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and each [woman] have her own husband.
• 2 Corinthians 12:21lest my God should humble me as to you when I come again, and that I shall grieve over many of those who have sinned before, and have not repented as to the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they have practised.

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