Acts 21:25
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.
Acts 21:25 in other translations
| BSB | 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.” |
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| WEB | 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.” |
| ASV | 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. |
| YLT | ‘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.' |
| DARBY | But concerning those of the nations who have believed, we have written, deciding that they should observe no such thing, only to keep themselves both from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. |
| BBE | But as to the Gentiles who have the faith, we sent a letter, giving our decision that they were to keep themselves from offerings made to false gods, and from blood, and from the flesh of animals put to death in ways against the law, and from the evil desires of the body. |
| Webster | 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. |
What does Acts 21:25 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 21:20-25
20-25. they glorified the Lord, &c.--constrained to justify his course, notwithstanding the Jewish complexion of the Christianity of Jerusalem.
Barnes' Notes
(1.) that the observance of that law was not necessary in order to justification.
(2.) That it would have been improper to have enjoined its observance on the Gentile converts as necessary, and therefore it was never done.
(3.) That when the Jews urged its observance as necessary to justification and salvation, Paul strenuously opposed this view of it everywhere.
(4.) Yet, that as a matter of expediency, he did not oppose its being observed either by the Jews, or by the converts made among the Jews. In fact, there is other evidence besides the case before us, that Paul himself continued to observe some at least of the Jewish rites, and his conduct in public at Jerusalem, was in strict accordance with his conduct in other places. See Acts 18:18. The sum of the whole matter is this, that when the observance of the Jewish ceremonial law was urged as necessary to justification and acceptance with God, Paul resisted it; when it was demanded that its observance should be enjoined on the Gentiles, he opposed it; in all other cases he made no opposition to it, and was ready himself to comply with it, and willing that others should also.
We have written. Acts 15:20,29.
(d) "we have written" Acts 15:20,29
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 21:19-26
Paul ascribed all his success to God, and to God they gave the praise. God had honoured him more than any of the apostles, yet they did not envy him; but on the contrary, glorified the Lord. They could not do more to encourage Paul to go on cheerfully in his work. James and the elders of the church at Jerusalem, asked Paul to gratify the believing Jews, by some compliance with the ceremonial law. They thought it was…
Acts 21:25 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Acts 21:25
- Acts 15:29
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.
- Acts 15:19-20
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Acts 21:24
Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
- Acts 21:25
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.
- Acts 21:26
Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
Acts 21:25 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Empero cuanto á los que de los Gentiles han creído, nosotros hemos escrito haberse acordado que no guarden nada de esto; solamente que se abstengan de lo que fuere sacrificado á los ídolos, y de sangre, y de ahogado, y de fornicación. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Mais à l’égard de ceux des nations qui ont cru, nous en avons écrit, ayant décidé qu’ils n’ont rien de semblable à observer, si ce n’est qu’ils se gardent et de ce qui est sacrifié aux idoles, et du sang, et de ce qui est étouffé, et de la fornication. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Was aber die Gläubigen aus den Nationen betrifft, so haben wir geschrieben und verfügt, daß sie nichts dergleichen halten sollten, als nur daß sie sich sowohl vor dem Götzenopfer als auch vor Blut und Ersticktem und Hurerei bewahrten. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | De his autem qui crediderunt ex gentibus, nos scripsimus judicantes ut abstineant se ab idolis immolato, et sanguine, et suffocato, et fornicatione. |