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title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/acts/21.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/acts/21.htm">New International Version</a> 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.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/acts/21.htm">New Living Translation</a> “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.” <a href="/esv/acts/21.htm">English Standard Version</a> 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.” <a href="/bsb/acts/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> 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.” <a href="/blb/acts/21.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Now concerning those of the Gentiles having believed, we wrote, having adjudged them to keep from both the things offered to idols, and blood, and what is strangled, and sexual immorality." <a href="/kjv/acts/21.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/acts/21.htm">New King James Version</a> 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.” <a href="/nasb_/acts/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we sent a letter, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.” <a href="/nasb/acts/21.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/acts/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.” <a href="/lsb/acts/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should keep from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from sexual immorality.” <a href="/amp/acts/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a> But with regard to the Gentiles who have believed [in Christ], we have sent them a letter with our decision that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from [consuming] blood and from [the meat of] what has been strangled and from sexual immorality.” <a href="/csb/acts/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.” <a href="/hcsb/acts/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.&#8221 <a href="/asv/acts/21.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/cev/acts/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Some while ago we told the Gentile followers what we think they should do. We instructed them not to eat anything offered to idols. They were told not to eat any meat with blood still in it or the meat of an animal that has been strangled. They were also told not to commit any terrible sexual sins. <a href="/erv/acts/21.htm">English Revised Version</a> But as touching the Gentiles which 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. <a href="/gwt/acts/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "[To clarify this matter,] we have written non-Jewish believers a letter with our decision. We told them that they should not eat food sacrificed to false gods, bloody meat, or the meat of strangled animals. They also should not commit sexual sins." <a href="/gnt/acts/21.htm">Good News Translation</a> But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, we have sent them a letter telling them we decided that they must not eat any food that has been offered to idols, or any blood, or any animal that has been strangled, and that they must keep themselves from sexual immorality." <a href="/isv/acts/21.htm">International Standard Version</a> As for the gentiles who have become believers, we have sent a letter with our decision that they should keep away from food that has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality." <a href="/msb/acts/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.? <a href="/net/acts/21.htm">NET Bible</a> But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided that they should avoid meat that has been sacrificed to idols and blood and what has been strangled and sexual immorality." <a href="/nheb/acts/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> But concerning the non-Jewish who believe, we have written our decision that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality." <a href="/wbt/acts/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> As concerning the Gentiles who 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 lewdness. <a href="/wey/acts/21.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> But as for the Gentiles who have accepted the faith, we have communicated to them our decision that they are carefully to abstain from anything sacrificed to an idol, from blood, from what is strangled, and from fornication." <a href="/web/acts/21.htm">World English Bible</a> But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And concerning those of the nations who have believed, we have written, having given judgment, that they observe no such thing, except to keep themselves both from idol-sacrifices, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom.” <a href="/blb/acts/21.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Now concerning those of the Gentiles having believed, we wrote, having adjudged them to keep from both the things offered to idols, and blood, and what is strangled, and sexual immorality." <a href="/ylt/acts/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'And concerning those of the nations who have believed, we have written, having given judgment, that they observe no such thing, except to keep themselves both from idol-sacrifices, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom.' <a href="/slt/acts/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And of the nations having believed, we have written having judged them to keep nothing such, except to watch themselves from that sacrificed to idols, and blood, and strangulation, and harlotry.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> But as touching the Gentiles that believe, we have written, decreeing that they should only refrain themselves from that which has been offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangles, and from fornication. <a href="/cpdv/acts/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> But, about those Gentiles who have believed, we have written a judgment that they should keep themselves from what has been immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication.” <a href="/nabre/acts/21.htm">New American Bible</a> As for the Gentiles who have come to believe, we sent them our decision that they abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage.” <a href="/nrsvce/acts/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, 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 is strangled and from fornication.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> As for the believers amongst the Gentiles, we have written that they should abstain from the things sacrificed to idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/21.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “But concerning those who believe among the Gentiles, we have written that they would keep themselves from what is sacrificed, from fornication, from strangled things and from blood.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/21.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> But with respect to the Gentiles that believe, we have written; having decided that they should observe no such thing; but that they keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from lewdness.<CM> <a href="/godbey/acts/21.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent to them, adjudicating that they keep themselves from idolatry, and blood, and strangulation, and fornication. <a href="/haweis/acts/21.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we have already written, deciding that they should observe no such thing, except that they should guard themselves from idol sacrifices, and blood, and what is strangled, and from whoredom.<CM> <a href="/mace/acts/21.htm">Mace New Testament</a> as for the believing Gentiles, we have given them by letter this decision, "they need only take care to abstain from meats offered to idols, from blood, from the flesh of animals strangled, and from fornication." <a href="/wey/acts/21.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> But as for the Gentiles who have accepted the faith, we have communicated to them our decision that they are carefully to abstain from anything sacrificed to an idol, from blood, from what is strangled, and from fornication." <a href="/worrell/acts/21.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> But concerning the gentiles who have believed, we sent to them, having given judgment, that they should keep themselves from idol-sacrifices, and from blood, and from anything strangled, and from fornication." <a href="/worsley/acts/21.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> But as to the believing Gentiles, we have written and determined, that they need observe no such thing; only to keep themselves from what is offered to idols, and from blood, and from any thing strangled, and from fornication. <a href="/parallel/acts/21-25.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=7159" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/acts/21.htm">Paul's Arrival at Jerusalem</a> …24Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law. 25<a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/4012.htm" title="4012: Peri (Prep) -- From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.">As for</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/1484.htm" title="1484: ethnōn (N-GNP) -- Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.">Gentile</a> <a href="/greek/4100.htm" title="4100: pepisteukotōn (V-RPA-GNP) -- From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.">believers,</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmeis (PPro-N1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">we</a> <a href="/greek/1989.htm" title="1989: epesteilamen (V-AIA-1P) -- To write, send by letter to. From epi and stello; to enjoin, i.e. to communicate by letter.">have written to them</a> <a href="/greek/2919.htm" title="2919: krinantes (V-APA-NMP) -- Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.">our decision</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autous (PPro-AM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">that they</a> <a href="/greek/5442.htm" title="5442: phylassesthai (V-PNM) -- Probably from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. Be on guard; by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid.">must abstain</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-ANS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">from food</a> <a href="/greek/5037.htm" title="5037: te (Conj) -- And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also."></a> <a href="/greek/1494.htm" title="1494: eidōlothyton (Adj-ANS) -- Neuter of a compound of eidolon and a presumed derivative of thuo; an image-sacrifice, i.e. Part of an idolatrous offering.">sacrificed to idols,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">from</a> <a href="/greek/129.htm" title="129: haima (N-ANS) -- Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred.">blood,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">from</a> <a href="/greek/4156.htm" title="4156: pnikton (Adj-ANS) -- Strangled (i.e. killed without letting out the blood). From pnigo; throttled, i.e. an animal choked to death.">the meat of strangled animals,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and from</a> <a href="/greek/4202.htm" title="4202: porneian (N-AFS) -- Fornication, whoredom; met: idolatry. From porneuo; harlotry; figuratively, idolatry.">sexual immorality.”</a> 26So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/acts/15-19.htm">Acts 15:19-20</a> It 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. <a href="/acts/15-28.htm">Acts 15:28-29</a> It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: / 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. <a href="/leviticus/17-10.htm">Leviticus 17:10-14</a> If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people. / For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. / Therefore I say to the Israelites, ‘None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner living among you eat blood.’ ... <a href="/leviticus/18-6.htm">Leviticus 18:6-18</a> None of you are to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD. / You must not expose the nakedness of your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her. / You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father. ... <a href="/leviticus/18-26.htm">Leviticus 18:26-30</a> But you are to keep My statutes and ordinances, and you must not commit any of these abominations—neither your native-born nor the foreigner who lives among you. / For the men who were in the land before you committed all these abominations, and the land has become defiled. / So if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it spewed out the nations before you. ... <a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26</a> You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery. <a href="/leviticus/20-22.htm">Leviticus 20:22-26</a> You are therefore to keep all My statutes and ordinances, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out. / You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them. / But I have told you that you will inherit their land, since I will give it to you as an inheritance—a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the peoples. ... <a href="/genesis/9-4.htm">Genesis 9:4</a> But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it. <a href="/exodus/34-15.htm">Exodus 34:15-16</a> Do 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. / And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same. <a href="/deuteronomy/12-16.htm">Deuteronomy 12:16</a> but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. <a href="/deuteronomy/12-23.htm">Deuteronomy 12:23-25</a> Only be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. / You must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. / Do not eat it, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD. <a href="/deuteronomy/14-21.htm">Deuteronomy 14:21</a> You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk. <a href="/1_corinthians/8-1.htm">1 Corinthians 8:1-13</a> Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. / The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. / But the one who loves God is known by God. ... <a href="/1_corinthians/10-19.htm">1 Corinthians 10:19-28</a> Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. ... <a href="/romans/14-1.htm">Romans 14:1-3</a> Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions. / For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables. / The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>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.we have.<a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Acts 15:20,29</a> But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/15-29.htm">Abstain</a> <a href="/acts/21-20.htm">Accepted</a> <a href="/acts/21-20.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/acts/20-28.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/acts/17-23.htm">Carefully</a> <a href="/acts/19-33.htm">Concluded</a> <a href="/acts/20-16.htm">Decided</a> <a href="/acts/19-21.htm">Decision</a> <a href="/acts/20-23.htm">Except</a> <a href="/acts/21-20.htm">Faith</a> <a href="/acts/20-11.htm">Food</a> <a href="/acts/15-29.htm">Fornication</a> <a href="/acts/15-23.htm">Gentile</a> <a href="/acts/21-21.htm">Gentiles</a> <a href="/acts/7-41.htm">Idol</a> <a href="/acts/17-16.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/acts/15-29.htm">Immorality</a> <a href="/acts/18-17.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/acts/18-14.htm">Lewdness</a> <a href="/acts/16-34.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/acts/21-21.htm">Observe</a> <a href="/acts/15-29.htm">Offered</a> <a href="/acts/10-31.htm">Offerings</a> <a href="/acts/15-29.htm">Sacrificed</a> <a href="/acts/20-23.htm">Save</a> <a href="/acts/15-29.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/acts/15-29.htm">Strangled</a> <a href="/acts/21-23.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/acts/20-15.htm">Touching</a> <a href="/acts/15-23.htm">Written</a> <a href="/acts/18-27.htm">Wrote</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_corinthians/7-1.htm">Abstain</a> <a href="/romans/10-16.htm">Accepted</a> <a href="/acts/22-19.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/acts/22-20.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/acts/22-3.htm">Carefully</a> <a href="/romans/11-32.htm">Concluded</a> <a href="/acts/25-25.htm">Decided</a> <a href="/acts/25-15.htm">Decision</a> <a href="/acts/24-21.htm">Except</a> <a href="/acts/22-4.htm">Faith</a> <a href="/acts/23-12.htm">Food</a> <a href="/romans/1-29.htm">Fornication</a> <a href="/romans/1-5.htm">Gentile</a> <a href="/acts/21-28.htm">Gentiles</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm">Idol</a> <a href="/romans/2-22.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/romans/1-29.htm">Immorality</a> <a href="/acts/23-35.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/5-1.htm">Lewdness</a> <a href="/acts/27-33.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/acts/27-39.htm">Observe</a> <a href="/acts/21-26.htm">Offered</a> <a href="/acts/24-17.htm">Offerings</a> <a href="/acts/27-31.htm">Sacrificed</a> <a href="/acts/26-17.htm">Save</a> <a href="/romans/1-24.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/2_samuel/17-23.htm">Strangled</a> <a href="/acts/22-19.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/acts/24-21.htm">Touching</a> <a href="/acts/23-5.htm">Written</a> <a href="/acts/23-25.htm">Wrote</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 21</div>1. <a href="/acts/21-1.htm">Paul calls at the house of Philip, whose daughters prophesy.</a> 10. <a href="/acts/21-10.htm">Agabus, foretelling what should befall him at Jerusalem, </a> 13. <a href="/acts/21-13.htm">he will not be dissuaded from going thither.</a> 17. <a href="/acts/21-17.htm">He comes to Jerusalem;</a> 27. <a href="/acts/21-27.htm">where he is apprehended, and in great danger, but by the chief captain is rescued;</a> 37. <a href="/acts/21-37.htm">and requests, and is permitted to speak to the people.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/acts/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>As for the Gentile believers This phrase refers to non-Jewish converts to Christianity. The early church faced challenges integrating Gentiles, who were not bound by Jewish law, into a predominantly Jewish community. This distinction is crucial as it highlights the early church's efforts to maintain unity while respecting cultural differences.we have written to them our decision The decision mentioned here refers to the Jerusalem Council's decree in <a href="/acts/15.htm">Acts 15</a>. This council was a pivotal moment in church history, addressing whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish law. The apostles and elders, guided by the Holy Spirit, concluded that imposing the full Mosaic Law on Gentiles was unnecessary, emphasizing grace over legalism.that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols This prohibition is rooted in the concern for idolatry, a major issue in the Greco-Roman world. Eating such food could imply participation in pagan worship, which was incompatible with Christian faith. Paul later addresses this in <a href="/1_corinthians/8.htm">1 Corinthians 8</a>, discussing the conscience and the impact on weaker believers.from blood The command to abstain from blood has its origins in the Noahic covenant (<a href="/genesis/9-4.htm">Genesis 9:4</a>) and was reinforced in Levitical law (<a href="/leviticus/17-10.htm">Leviticus 17:10-14</a>). This reflects a respect for life and God's creation, as blood symbolizes life itself.from the meat of strangled animals Strangled animals retain blood, thus violating the prohibition against consuming blood. This practice was common in pagan rituals, and abstaining from it helped Gentile believers distance themselves from their former pagan practices.and from sexual immorality Sexual immorality was rampant in the pagan world, often linked to idol worship. The early church upheld the sanctity of marriage and sexual purity, aligning with Old Testament teachings (Leviticus 18) and Jesus' teachings on marriage and purity (<a href="/matthew/5-27.htm">Matthew 5:27-32</a>). This decree aimed to foster unity and holiness within the diverse body of Christ, balancing freedom in Christ with sensitivity to Jewish customs and the moral law.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/g/gentile_believers.htm">Gentile Believers</a> Non-Jewish converts to Christianity who were part of the early church. They were often at the center of discussions regarding the application of Jewish law to Christian life. 2. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem_council.htm">Jerusalem Council</a> A significant meeting of early church leaders, including the apostles and elders, to discuss the requirements for Gentile converts. This council is referenced in <a href="/bsb/acts/15.htm">Acts 15</a>, where the decision mentioned in <a href="/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25</a> was originally made. 3. <a href="/topical/a/apostles_and_elders.htm">Apostles and Elders</a> Key leaders in the early church who were responsible for making doctrinal decisions and providing guidance to the growing Christian community. 4. <a href="/topical/j/james.htm">James</a> The brother of Jesus and a leader in the Jerusalem church, who played a significant role in the decision-making process regarding Gentile believers. 5. <a href="/topical/p/paul.htm">Paul</a> An apostle to the Gentiles, who was instrumental in spreading the gospel beyond Jewish communities and was present at the Jerusalem Council.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/c/cultural_sensitivity_and_unity.htm">Cultural Sensitivity and Unity</a> The decision of the Jerusalem Council highlights the importance of maintaining unity within the diverse body of Christ. While the Gentile believers were not bound by the full extent of Jewish law, they were asked to respect certain practices to promote harmony with Jewish Christians. <a href="/topical/m/moral_purity.htm">Moral Purity</a> The call to abstain from sexual immorality is a timeless principle that underscores the importance of living a life that honors God. This teaching remains relevant for Christians today as they navigate a world with diverse moral standards. <a href="/topical/a/avoiding_idolatry.htm">Avoiding Idolatry</a> The instruction to abstain from food sacrificed to idols serves as a reminder to avoid any form of idolatry, which can take many forms in contemporary society, including materialism and the elevation of personal desires above God. <a href="/topical/r/respect_for_life.htm">Respect for Life</a> The prohibition against consuming blood and meat from strangled animals reflects a respect for life and the sanctity of God's creation. Christians are called to honor God in all aspects of life, including their dietary choices.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 21</a> <a href="/q/what_are_ecumenical_councils.htm">What are Ecumenical Councils?</a> <a href="/q/bible's_view_on_blood_transfusions.htm">What is the Bible's stance on blood transfusions?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_paul_allow_more_freedoms_later.htm">Acts 15:22-29 - If this decree was universally binding, why do Paul's later writings seem to allow more freedoms than this letter implies?</a> <a href="/q/paul's_missionary_journeys.htm">What were Apostle Paul's missionary journeys?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(25) As touching the Gentiles which believe.--See Note on <a href="/acts/15-20.htm" title="But that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.">Acts 15:20</a>. St. James, it will be seen, adheres still to the terms of the concordat sanctioned at the council of Jerusalem. He has no desire to withdraw any concession that was then made, and the Judaisers who in Galatia and elsewhere were, in his name, urging the necessity of circumcision, were acting without authority. He thinks it fair to call on St. Paul to show that he too adheres to the compact, and has no wish to disparage the "customs" of the Law. St Paul, it will be seen, readily acts upon the suggestion. All promised well; but an interruption came from an unexpected quarter and overturned what seemed so wisely planned in the interests of peace.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 25. - But as for as, A.V.; have believed for believe, A.V.; wrote giving judgment for have written and concluded, A.V.; the R.T. omits the clause rendered that they observe no such thing, save only, in the A.V.; should keep for keep, A.V.; sacrificed for offered, A.V.; what is strangled for strangled, A.V. As touching the Gentiles, etc. What follows is, of course, a quotation from "the decrees that had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem" (<a href="/acts/16-4.htm">Acts 16:4</a>), of which the text is given in <a href="/acts/15-19.htm">Acts 15:19, 20, 28</a>. Observe the use of the identical words - κρίνω, in <a href="/acts/15-19.htm">Acts 15:19</a>; <a href="/acts/16-4.htm">Acts 16:4</a>; and in this verse; and of ἐπιστέλλω, in this verse and in <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Acts 15:20</a>, with its cognate διεστειλάμεθα and ἀπεστάλκαμεν, <a href="/acts/15-24.htm">Acts 15:24, 27</a>. This reference on the part of James to the decrees was very important as a confirmation of "the gospel which Paul preached among the Gentiles" (<a href="/galatians/2-2.htm">Galatians 2:2</a>). It also marks distinctly the upright and honorable conduct of James, and the concord of the apostles. <a href="/commentaries/acts/21-25.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>As for Περὶ (Peri) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_4012.htm">Strong's 4012: </a> From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time. the τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Gentile ἐθνῶν (ethnōn) Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1484.htm">Strong's 1484: </a> Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one. believers, πεπιστευκότων (pepisteukotōn) Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust. we ἡμεῖς (hēmeis) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. have written [them] ἐπεστείλαμεν (epesteilamen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1989.htm">Strong's 1989: </a> To write, send by letter to. From epi and stello; to enjoin, i.e. to communicate by letter. our decision κρίναντες (krinantes) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2919.htm">Strong's 2919: </a> Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish. [that] they αὐτοὺς (autous) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. must abstain φυλάσσεσθαι (phylassesthai) Verb - Present Infinitive Middle <a href="/greek/strongs_5442.htm">Strong's 5442: </a> Probably from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. Be on guard; by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid. from [food] τό (to) Article - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. sacrificed to idols, εἰδωλόθυτον (eidōlothyton) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1494.htm">Strong's 1494: </a> Neuter of a compound of eidolon and a presumed derivative of thuo; an image-sacrifice, i.e. Part of an idolatrous offering. [from] καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. blood, αἷμα (haima) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_129.htm">Strong's 129: </a> Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred. [from] καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. the meat of strangled animals, πνικτὸν (pnikton) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4156.htm">Strong's 4156: </a> Strangled (i.e. killed without letting out the blood). From pnigo; throttled, i.e. an animal choked to death. and [from] καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. sexual immorality.” πορνείαν (porneian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4202.htm">Strong's 4202: </a> Fornication, whoredom; met: idolatry. From porneuo; harlotry; figuratively, idolatry. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/21-25.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 21:25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe we (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/21-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 21:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 21:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/21-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 21:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 21:26" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>