What does Act 15:20 mean to you?

Answer 1

The reference to food polluted by idols should be taken in the sense of Revelation 2:14, 20. It was a usual practice among Gentiles to use an idol’s temple for banquets and celebrations. Paul also condemned the practice of Christians participating in these (1 Cor. 10:14-22).

Fornication was such a common sin among the Gentiles that it was an accepted practice. The problem of immorality even persisted among Christians all too often, as is witnessed by the New Testament injunctions against it (cf. 1 Cor. 6:12-18, where Paul was evidently answering arguments in favor of immorality).

The third prohibition goes back further than Leviticus 17; it looks back to Genesis 9, where God established the Noahic Covenant, a “contract” still in effect today. There God gave people the privilege of eating flesh but the blood was to be drained from it.

All three prohibitions in Acts 15:20 are best taken in an ethical or moral sense. If this be so, they are still the responsibility of Christians today, even to the point of not eating blood sausage and raw meat. By not attending temple banquets, or being involved in fornication, or eating meat with blood in it, the Gentile Christians would be maintaining high moral standards and would keep from offending their Jewish brothers. There were Jews in every city who would be offended by Christians not following these strictures. These Israelites were well acquainted with these moral issues.

Answer 2

The apostles were arguing over whether or not circumcision should be a requirement for salvation.......thus we have the council at Jerusalem.

Paul set them straight on this issue........that we should be more concerned with obvious sin rather than adding works to salvation.

Some of the apostles thought that the Law should still be strictly enforced....whereas Paul knew that salvation comes by grace through faith and not by the works of the Law.

Answer 3

Good question. The "food polluted by idols" part sounds like you shouldn't commit idolitry or sacrifice food to them. The "sexual morallity" part is obvious. As for the "meat of strangled animals", well, in biblical times, there were certain animals considered unclean to eat. There were also types of the killing of animals that were "unclean". An the "blood" part sounds like you shouldn't murder people.

Answer 4

We are far freer in Christ than most organized churches would have us believe. From the beginning, those who want to lord power over people have sought to force us under the hand of heavy rules, but the Gospel is freedom indeed.

Tom

Answer 5

There are four things are mentioned here:
1.)Eating food offered to idols
2.)Sexual immorality
3.)Foods from animals that have been strangled
4.)And eating food with blood.
These things were mentioned as a warning so that If Gentiles continued such practices there would be tension between between the Gentile & Jewish communities.

Answer 6

The prior verse gives the answer. These were converted Jews talking about converted gentiles and what requirements of Jewish law they should be expected to uphold.

Answer 7

Part of a passage where they're deciding what the gentile believers should be restricted to, if not the entire torah.

Answer 8

But we should send word to them in writing to abstain from and avoid anything that has been polluted by being offered to idols, and all sexual impurity, and [eating meat of animals] that have been strangled, and [tasting of] blood.

Answer 9

It some of Christ's Law that most who claim to be christian do not follow.
Only Jehovah's Witness takes the verse seriously. Very.

Answer 10

this was given to give the requirements for non Jewish people coming to Jesus-they are not to be held to the laws given to the Jew-which are a school master to bring them unto the one to shed his blood to make the final atonement for our sins=Isaiah 53, Leviticus 17:11.

its all good, and this is how I as a Jew came to know Jesus too=this is what got me to learn this lesson=Satan is not killed-he is sent to torment forever -weeping and gnashing teeth-he too will be given a physical body.

this is what helped me to not to go be with Satan and freed me from his holds over me in religion, materialism and finally in lust and lies=as a Jew I came to believe=the Messiah Jesus promised from beginning Genesis 3:15 to his fulfillment to the last book of Revelation 22

As a Jew to me the prophecies helped me to know him personally-as they led me to his final words before ascending to heaven=Isaiah 9:6 "Unto us a child is born, a son is given, and he will be the mighty God, the wonderful counselor, the everlasting father and the prince of peace."

since the comming of Jesus many Jewish and non Jewish/gentile people believe in him personally, including all the Jewish writers who wrote the entire New Testament as promised in Jeremiah 31:31 ff/and following. "I will make a new covenant unto you, not like the one I made with Moses, and you shall be my people and I will be your God."

this is what helped me as a Jew to make the final breakthrough=praying for you in Jesus amazing grace that saved me=John 3 repented of my sins-even one lie, and asked Jesus in to forgive me and help me do better, and be my friend. amen. Revelation 3:19&20 "I love you and ask you to repent, Behold I stand at your heart door and knock, if you ask me in I will be your friend."

You can't buy true love, and when you have love from above you will have direction to earn money to provide for needs.

Praying for you to be on the keep asking good questions as Jesus leads you, and best wishes, David