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You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. <a href="/nlt/acts/15.htm">New Living Translation</a> You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.” <a href="/esv/acts/15.htm">English Standard Version</a> that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” <a href="/bsb/acts/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> 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="/blb/acts/15.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. Keeping yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell." <a href="/kjv/acts/15.htm">King James Bible</a> That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. <a href="/nkjv/acts/15.htm">New King James Version</a> that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. <a href="/nasb_/acts/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from acts of sexual immorality; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” <a href="/nasb/acts/15.htm">NASB 1995</a> that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/acts/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a> <HL>that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” <a href="/lsb/acts/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, you will do well. Farewell.” <a href="/amp/acts/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a> that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from [consuming] blood, and from [eating the meat of] things that have been strangled, and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.” <a href="/csb/acts/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.” <a href="/hcsb/acts/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell. <a href="/asv/acts/15.htm">American Standard Version</a> that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well. <a href="/cev/acts/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> But you should not eat anything offered to idols. You should not eat any meat that still has the blood in it or any meat of any animal that has been strangled. You must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. If you follow these instructions, you will do well. We send our best wishes. <a href="/erv/acts/15.htm">English Revised Version</a> that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well. <a href="/gwt/acts/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> by keeping away from food sacrificed to false gods, from eating bloody meat, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual sins. If you avoid these things, you will be doing what's right. Farewell! <a href="/gnt/acts/15.htm">Good News Translation</a> eat no food that has been offered to idols; eat no blood; eat no animal that has been strangled; and keep yourselves from sexual immorality. You will do well if you take care not to do these things. With our best wishes." <a href="/isv/acts/15.htm">International Standard Version</a> to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will do well. Goodbye." <a href="/net/acts/15.htm">NET Bible</a> that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell. <a href="/nheb/acts/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell." <a href="/wbt/acts/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> That ye abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from lewdness: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye will do well. Fare ye well. <a href="/wey/acts/15.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> You must abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear of these things, and it will be well with you. Farewell."<div class="vheading2">Majority Text Translations</div><a href="/msb/acts/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> 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="/web/acts/15.htm">World English Bible</a> that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> to abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom; keeping yourselves from which, you will do well; be strong!” <a href="/blb/acts/15.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. Keeping yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell." <a href="/ylt/acts/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> to abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well; be strong!' <a href="/slt/acts/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> To keep off from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and strangulation, and harlotry: from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well. <a href="/cpdv/acts/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> that you abstain from things immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication. You will do well to keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.” <a href="/nabre/acts/15.htm">New American Bible</a> namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’ ” <a href="/nrsvce/acts/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> That you abstain from sacrifices offered to idols, and from blood, and from animals strangled, and from fornication: when you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Remain steadfast in our LORD. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/15.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “Abstain from what is sacrificed, from blood, from what is strangled, and from fornication, for when you keep yourselves from these things, you will be well. Be faithful in Our Lord.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/15.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from lewdness; from which if you keep yourselves carefully, you will do well. Farewell.<CM> <a href="/godbey/acts/15.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which keeping yourselves, you will do well. Fare ye well. <a href="/haweis/acts/15.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> that ye abstain from eating whatever is sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from whoredom: from which things carefully preserving yourselves, ye shall do well. Farewell.<CM> <a href="/mace/acts/15.htm">Mace New Testament</a> that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the flesh of strangled animals, and from fornication: you will do well to preserve your selves from these practices, farewel. <a href="/wey/acts/15.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> You must abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear of these things, and it will be well with you. Farewell." <a href="/worrell/acts/15.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> that ye abstain from idol-sacrifices, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." <a href="/worsley/acts/15.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from fornication: from which ye will do well to keep yourselves. Farewel. <a href="/parallel/acts/15-29.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=5085" 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/15.htm">The Letter to the Gentile Believers</a> …28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: 29<a href="/greek/568.htm" title="568: apechesthai (V-PNM) -- To have in full, be far, it is enough. From apo and echo; to have out, i.e. Receive in full; to keep away, i.e. Be distant.">You must abstain</a> <a href="/greek/1494.htm" title="1494: eidōlothytōn (Adj-GNP) -- Neuter of a compound of eidolon and a presumed derivative of thuo; an image-sacrifice, i.e. Part of an idolatrous offering.">from food sacrificed to idols,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/129.htm" title="129: haimatos (N-GNS) -- Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred.">from blood,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/4156.htm" title="4156: pniktōn (Adj-GNP) -- Strangled (i.e. killed without letting out the blood). From pnigo; throttled, i.e. an animal choked to death.">from the meat of strangled animals,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/4202.htm" title="4202: porneias (N-GFS) -- Fornication, whoredom; met: idolatry. From porneuo; harlotry; figuratively, idolatry.">from sexual immorality.</a> <a href="/greek/4238.htm" title="4238: praxete (V-FIA-2P) -- To do, perform, accomplish; be in any condition, i.e. I fare; I exact, require. ">You will do</a> <a href="/greek/2095.htm" title="2095: eu (Adv) -- Well, well done, good, rightly; also used as an exclamation. Neuter of a primary eus; well.">well</a> <a href="/greek/1301.htm" title="1301: diatērountes (V-PPA-NMP) -- To keep safe, hold fast. From dia and tereo; to watch thoroughly, i.e. to observe strictly, or to avoid wholly.">to avoid</a> <a href="/greek/1438.htm" title="1438: heautous (RefPro-AM3P) -- Himself, herself, itself. "></a> <a href="/greek/1537.htm" title="1537: ex (Prep) -- From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out."></a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: hōn (RelPro-GNP) -- Who, which, what, that. ">these things.</a> <a href="/greek/4517.htm" title="4517: Errōsthe (V-RMM/P-2P) -- Prolongation from rhoomai; to strengthen, i.e. have health.">Farewell.</a> 30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.…<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="/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 18:6-30</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="/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/10-14.htm">1 Corinthians 10:14-33</a> Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. / I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say. / Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? ... <a href="/revelation/2-14.htm">Revelation 2:14</a> 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 sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. <a href="/revelation/2-20.htm">Revelation 2:20</a> 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. <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/14-3.htm">Deuteronomy 14:3-21</a> You must not eat any detestable thing. / These are the animals that you may eat: The ox, the sheep, the goat, / the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. ... <a href="/ezekiel/33-25.htm">Ezekiel 33:25</a> Therefore 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? <a href="/romans/14-1.htm">Romans 14:1-23</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. ... <a href="/1_thessalonians/4-3.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:3-5</a> For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; <a href="/1_peter/4-3.htm">1 Peter 4:3</a> For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>That you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Fare you well.ye abstain.<a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Acts 15:20</a> But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.<a href="/acts/21-25.htm">Acts 21:25</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="/leviticus/17-14.htm">Leviticus 17:14</a> For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.if ye.<a href="/2_corinthians/11-9.htm">2 Corinthians 11:9</a> And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.<a href="/1_timothy/5-22.htm">1 Timothy 5:22</a> Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.<a href="/james/1-27.htm">James 1:27</a> Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.Fare.<a href="/acts/18-21.htm">Acts 18:21</a> But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.<a href="/acts/23-30.htm">Acts 23:30</a> And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.<a href="/luke/9-61.htm">Luke 9:61</a> And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Abstain</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Animals</a> <a href="/john/18-28.htm">Avoid</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Body</a> <a href="/acts/15-18.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Death</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Desires</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/haggai/2-16.htm">Fare</a> <a href="/luke/9-61.htm">Farewell</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Food</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Fornication</a> <a href="/acts/13-39.htm">Free</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/acts/5-41.htm">Happy</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Immorality</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Lewdness</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/mark/7-19.htm">Meats</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Offered</a> <a href="/luke/22-7.htm">Sacrificed</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Strangled</a> <a href="/acts/15-10.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Unchastity</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Ways</a> <a href="/john/8-41.htm">Whoredom</a> <a href="/acts/13-46.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/21-25.htm">Abstain</a> <a href="/acts/23-24.htm">Animals</a> <a href="/acts/20-16.htm">Avoid</a> <a href="/acts/17-26.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/acts/19-12.htm">Body</a> <a href="/acts/17-19.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/acts/16-27.htm">Death</a> <a href="/romans/1-24.htm">Desires</a> <a href="/acts/18-6.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/acts/15-36.htm">Fare</a> <a href="/acts/15-33.htm">Farewell</a> <a href="/acts/16-34.htm">Food</a> <a href="/acts/21-25.htm">Fornication</a> <a href="/acts/22-28.htm">Free</a> <a href="/acts/17-16.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/acts/26-2.htm">Happy</a> <a href="/acts/17-16.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/acts/21-25.htm">Immorality</a> <a href="/acts/18-14.htm">Lewdness</a> <a href="/acts/16-34.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/6-13.htm">Meats</a> <a href="/acts/21-25.htm">Offered</a> <a href="/acts/21-25.htm">Sacrificed</a> <a href="/acts/21-25.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/acts/21-25.htm">Strangled</a> <a href="/acts/15-32.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/4-3.htm">Unchastity</a> <a href="/acts/18-13.htm">Ways</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/5-1.htm">Whoredom</a> <a href="/acts/17-28.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 15</div>1. <a href="/acts/15-1.htm">Great dissensions arise regarding circumcision.</a> 5. <a href="/acts/15-5.htm">The apostles consult about it,</a> 22. <a href="/acts/15-22.htm">and send their determination by letters to the churches.</a> 36. <a href="/acts/15-36.htm">Paul and Barnabas, thinking to visit the brothers together, </a> 39. <a href="/acts/15-39.htm">disagree, and travel different ways.</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/15.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/15.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols In the early church, the issue of food sacrificed to idols was significant due to the prevalence of pagan rituals in the Greco-Roman world. Eating such food was seen as participating in idol worship, which was strictly forbidden in the Old Testament (<a href="/exodus/34-15.htm">Exodus 34:15</a>). Paul later addresses this issue in <a href="/1_corinthians/8.htm">1 Corinthians 8</a>, emphasizing the importance of not causing others to stumble in their faith. The Jerusalem Council's directive here reflects a desire to maintain purity and avoid syncretism with pagan practices.from blood The prohibition against consuming blood dates back to the Noahic covenant (<a href="/genesis/9-4.htm">Genesis 9:4</a>) and is reiterated in the Mosaic Law (<a href="/leviticus/17-10.htm">Leviticus 17:10-14</a>). Blood was considered sacred as it represented life, and consuming it was seen as a violation of God's commands. This directive would have been particularly relevant in a context where pagan rituals often involved the consumption of blood.from the meat of strangled animals Strangled animals would still have blood in their bodies, making their meat unclean according to Jewish dietary laws. This prohibition aligns with the broader biblical theme of respecting life and the sanctity of blood. It also served to distinguish the early Christian community from surrounding pagan practices, which often disregarded such concerns.and from sexual immorality Sexual immorality, or "porneia" in Greek, encompasses a range of illicit sexual behaviors condemned in both the Old and New Testaments. In the context of the early church, this would include practices common in pagan worship, such as temple prostitution. The call to abstain from sexual immorality is a consistent biblical theme, emphasizing holiness and the sanctity of marriage (<a href="/1_thessalonians/4-3.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:3-5</a>).You will do well to avoid these things This phrase suggests that adherence to these guidelines would lead to spiritual well-being and community harmony. It reflects the pastoral concern of the Jerusalem Council for the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers, ensuring that Gentile converts would not offend Jewish sensibilities or violate God's commands.Farewell The closing of the letter is brief and formal, typical of ancient correspondence. It signifies the end of the council's decree and conveys a sense of peace and goodwill. The use of "farewell" underscores the council's desire for the recipients to receive the message with grace and to live in accordance with the outlined instructions.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_jerusalem_council.htm">The Jerusalem Council</a> A pivotal meeting of early church leaders, including apostles and elders, held in Jerusalem to address the issue of whether Gentile converts to Christianity must follow Jewish law. 2. <a href="/topical/p/paul_and_barnabas.htm">Paul and Barnabas</a> Key figures in the early church who advocated for the inclusion of Gentiles without the requirement of circumcision or adherence to the full Mosaic Law. 3. <a href="/topical/j/james,_the_brother_of_jesus.htm">James, the brother of Jesus</a> A leading figure in the Jerusalem church who played a significant role in the council's decision, offering a compromise that balanced Jewish traditions with the new faith of Gentile believers. 4. <a href="/topical/g/gentile_believers.htm">Gentile Believers</a> Non-Jewish converts to Christianity who were at the center of the debate regarding the necessity of following Jewish customs. 5. <a href="/topical/a/antioch.htm">Antioch</a> The city where the letter containing the council's decision was sent, serving as a major center for early Christianity and a hub for missionary activity.<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 cultural sensitivity and unity within the body of Christ. Believers are called to respect the convictions of others and avoid practices that may cause division. <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 maintaining moral purity in a believer's life. <a href="/topical/f/freedom_and_responsibility.htm">Freedom and Responsibility</a> While Christians have freedom in Christ, this freedom comes with the responsibility to act in love and consideration for others, avoiding actions that may lead others into sin. <a href="/topical/h/holiness_in_daily_life.htm">Holiness in Daily Life</a> The prohibitions serve as a reminder that holiness should permeate every aspect of a believer's life, including dietary choices and sexual conduct. <a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_apostolic_teaching.htm">Obedience to Apostolic Teaching</a> The early church's adherence to the apostles' teaching serves as a model for believers today, emphasizing the importance of obedience to biblical instruction.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_15.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 15</a> <a href="/q/how_does_lev_17_align_with_acts_15_29.htm">How does Leviticus 17 align with the New Testament practice in Acts 15:29, where only some Mosaic laws about blood are upheld while others are set aside? </a> <a href="/q/why_are_some_ot_laws_still_needed.htm">Acts 15:7–9 – If God supposedly made no distinction between Jews and Gentiles, why do some Old Testament laws still appear necessary in the letter? </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/what's_the_watchtower_society.htm">What is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(29) From meats offered to idols.--The specific term takes the place of the more general word which St. James had used. The change, if the two words were not used, as is possible, as altogether equivalent, may be thought of as favouring the Gentiles by narrowing the prohibition to a single point.Fare ye well.--The closing salutation was, like the opening, a Greek and not a Hebrew one. It meets us again in <a href="/acts/23-30.htm" title="And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to you, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before you what they had against him. Farewell.">Acts 23:30</a>. Both were naturally used in a letter addressed to Greeks, and intended to be read by them and by Hellenistic Jews. It does not occur, however, in any of the Epistles of the New Testament.It is natural to ask, at the close of the great encyclical letter, in what relation it really stood to the life of the Apostolic Church. As a concordat between the contending parties it was framed, as has been said, with a sagacity that may well be looked on as inspired. But obviously it was not, and from the nature of the case could not be, more than that. The time had not come for proclaiming to the Church of Jerusalem the full width of St. Paul's teaching (<a href="/galatians/2-2.htm" title="And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.">Galatians 2:2</a>), and accordingly, though something may be read between the lines, the decree seems to treat the precepts of Noah as perpetually binding, places moral and positive obligations on the same footing, and leaves the ground on which they are "necessary" an open question. St. Paul, who had accepted it as a satisfactory settlement of the matter in debate, never refers to it, even when he is discussing the chief point with which the decree dealt (1 Corinthians 8-10). In his narrative of what passed on this occasion (<a href="/context/galatians/2-1.htm" title="Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.">Galatians 2:1-10</a>) there is no mention of it. The private conference with the three great "pillars" of the Church was for him more than the decree of the synod, and he felt himself able to discuss the whole question again on different grounds, and with a more distinct reference to spiritual and ethical principles. It was wrong to eat things sacrificed to idols, not because the act of so eating in itself brought defilement, but because it might involve a participation in the sin of idolatry in the consciousness of the eater, or wound the conscience of the weaker brother who saw him eat. It was natural that those who lacked his largeness of view should become slaves to the letter of the rules long after the grounds on which they rested had ceased to exist, and so we find that the prohibition of blood was re-enforced in the so-called Apostolic Canons (c. 62), and in the fourth century by the Council of Gangra (c. 2), and in the seventh by that at Constantinople, known as in Trullo (c. 67), and continues to be the binding rule of the Greek Church still. In Africa and in Europe, however, truer views prevailed (August, cont. Faust. xxxii. 13), and not even the most devout believer in the inspiration of the Apostles, or in the authority of primitive antiquity. would venture to urge that the two last precepts of the four here enjoined were in any degree binding. Hooker (Eccl. Pol. iv., xi., ? 5) rightly refers to this decree as a crucial instance proving that commands might be divine and yet given only for a season, binding as long as the conditions to which they applied continued, but no longer. It would almost seem, indeed, as if St. Paul felt that the terms of the decree had the effect of placing the sin of impurity on the same level with that of eating things sacrificed to idols, and things strangled, and blood, and so tended to keep men from seeing it in its true hatefulness. Those who claimed a right, which in the abstract St. Paul could not deny, to eat of things strangled or offered to idols, thought themselves free to fall back into the old license of the heathen world, and he needed far stronger motives than the canons of the council to restrain them (<a href="/context/1_corinthians/5-9.htm" title="I wrote to you in an letter not to company with fornicators:">1Corinthians 5:9-10</a>; <a href="/context/1_corinthians/6-15.htm" title="Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.">1Corinthians 6:15-20</a>, and found those motives in the truths that they had been bought with a price, that the will of God was their sanctification, and that their bodies were His temple. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 29. - Things sacrificed for meats offered, A.V.; it shall be well with you for ye shall do well, A.V. The phrase εῦ πράσσειν means to" prosper," to "fare well" (comp. <a href="/ephesians/6-21.htm">Ephesians 6:21</a>, "How I do"). <a href="/commentaries/acts/15-29.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>[You must] abstain ἀπέχεσθαι (apechesthai) Verb - Present Infinitive Middle <a href="/greek/strongs_568.htm">Strong's 568: </a> To have in full, be far, it is enough. From apo and echo; to have out, i.e. Receive in full; to keep away, i.e. Be distant. from food sacrificed to idols, εἰδωλοθύτων (eidōlothytōn) Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural <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 blood, αἵματος (haimatos) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_129.htm">Strong's 129: </a> Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred. from the meat of strangled animals, πνικτῶν (pniktōn) Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural <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 καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. from sexual immorality. πορνείας (porneias) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4202.htm">Strong's 4202: </a> Fornication, whoredom; met: idolatry. From porneuo; harlotry; figuratively, idolatry. You will do πράξετε (praxete) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4238.htm">Strong's 4238: </a> To do, perform, accomplish; be in any condition, i.e. I fare; I exact, require. well εὖ (eu) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_2095.htm">Strong's 2095: </a> Well, well done, good, rightly; also used as an exclamation. Neuter of a primary eus; well. to avoid διατηροῦντες (diatērountes) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1301.htm">Strong's 1301: </a> To keep safe, hold fast. From dia and tereo; to watch thoroughly, i.e. to observe strictly, or to avoid wholly. these things. ὧν (hōn) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> Who, which, what, that. Farewell.” Ἔρρωσθε (Errōsthe) Verb - Perfect Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4517.htm">Strong's 4517: </a> Prolongation from rhoomai; to strengthen, i.e. have health. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/15-29.htm">Acts 15:29 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/15-29.htm">Acts 15:29 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/15-29.htm">Acts 15:29 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/15-29.htm">Acts 15:29 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/15-29.htm">Acts 15:29 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/15-29.htm">Acts 15:29 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/15-29.htm">Acts 15:29 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/15-29.htm">Acts 15:29 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/15-29.htm">Acts 15:29 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/15-29.htm">Acts 15:29 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/15-29.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 15:29 That you abstain from things sacrificed (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/15-28.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 15:28"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 15:28" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/15-30.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 15:30"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 15:30" /></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>