KJV King James Version
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Acts 15:20
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
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.
WEB World English Bible
but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
ASV American Standard Version
but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing; and the blood;
Surrounding context — Acts 15
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote [letters] by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren [send] greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
ἀλλ᾽G235 · allabutἐπιστεῖλαιG1989 · epistellōto write toαὐτοῖςG846 · autosit/s/heτοῦG3588 · hothe/this/whoἀπέχεσθαιG568 · apechōto have in fullτῶνG3588 · hothe/this/whoἀλισγημάτωνG234 · alisgēmadefilementτῶνG3588 · hothe/this/whoεἰδώλωνG1497 · eidōlonidolκαὶG2532 · kaiandτῆςG3588 · hothe/this/whoπορνείαςG4202 · porneiasexual sinκαὶG2532 · kaiandτοῦG3588 · hothe/this/whoπνικτοῦG4156 · pniktosstrangledκαὶG2532 · kaiandτοῦG3588 · hothe/this/whoαἵματος.G129 · ahimablood
Cross-references
Revelation 2:20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.Acts 15:29That 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.Revelation 2:14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.Leviticus 3:17[It shall be] a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.Genesis 9:4But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.1 Corinthians 8:4-13As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one.Acts 21:25As 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.1 Corinthians 6:18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.Leviticus 17:10-14And whatsoever man [there be] of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.1 Corinthians 6:9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,1 Corinthians 10:7-8Neither be ye idolaters, as [were] some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.1 Corinthians 5:11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.Ezekiel 4:14Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.1 Peter 4:3For the time past of [our] life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:Galatians 5:19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,Deuteronomy 15:23Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water.1 Thessalonians 4:3For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:1 Corinthians 7:2Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Acts 15:20
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →