but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that abstaining from idols and sexual immorality was considered on the same level as avoiding strangled meat and blood, not because all were morally equivalent, but because these particular practices were deeply ingrained cultural norms or connected to idolatry in the Gentile world, and thus presented significant stumbling blocks for Jewish believers. This points to a nuanced understanding of how ethical and ceremonial practices intersect, especially when bridging different cultural and religious backgrounds.
but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Jerusalem council, composed of apostles and elders, is addressing a major dispute over whether Gentile believers need to follow Jewish laws, especially circumcision. After much discussion and Peter and Paul's powerful testimonies, James proposes a solution: a letter to the Gentile churches outlining specific prohibitions to maintain unity and avoid offending Jewish believers, focusing on practices common in pagan worship that would be abhorrent to Jews.
Ever wonder why early Christians were told to avoid certain foods? It wasn't just about the taste!
The Jerusalem council's decree to abstain from 'pollutions of idols' (Acts 15:20) went beyond simply not eating food offered to false gods. It was about recognizing the spiritual implications of participating in practices that were deeply tied to idolatry.
Why Abstain?
While Paul later explains that idols themselves are nothing and that food doesn't make one unclean (1 Corinthians 8:4-6), this initial decree was crucial for establishing a common ground and preventing unnecessary division and offense.
Why was 'fornication' grouped with food laws? Discover the surprising reason this was a crucial command for early believers.
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The inclusion of 'fornication' (sexual immorality) in this list is significant. Unlike the other items, which relate to specific practices, fornication is a moral issue that was deeply ingrained in Gentile culture.
A Pagan World's Norms
The council recognized that for Jewish and Gentile believers to live in unity, a clear and unwavering stance on sexual purity was non-negotiable, bridging the gap between ceremonial and moral law in practice.
Why were strangling animals and eating blood forbidden? It’s a command rooted in the very beginning of human history.
The prohibitions against eating 'what has been strangled' and 'blood' point to a foundational principle established at creation: the sanctity of life, symbolized by blood.
The Blood and the Life
Abstaining from blood and strangled animals was a way for Gentile believers to demonstrate respect for God’s provision and authority over life, aligning them with a core principle recognized from the very beginning of human history.
Understand the original words
apechomai · Greek Verb
To hold back or refrain from a specific action or behavior, typically in a religious or moral context to maintain holiness, ritual purity, or fellowship with other believers.
alisgēma · Greek Noun/Adjective phrase
Relates to anything associated with the worship of false gods, often referring to food offered to idols. The early church prohibited this to avoid participation in demonic or pagan religious practices.
porneia · Greek Noun
A broad term encompassing any form of sexual activity outside of the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, including adultery, premarital sex, and other prohibited unions. It is consistently condemned in Scripture as a violation of God's design for human intimacy.
haima · Greek Noun
The life force of a creature; in the Old Testament, blood belongs to God as the sustainer of life, and its consumption is strictly forbidden in the Law, reflecting the sanctity of life given by the Creator.
This decree wasn't just about rules; it was a strategic move to build a bridge of understanding and unity between Jewish and Gentile believers. It acknowledged that while the core of salvation was in Christ, respecting deeply ingrained cultural and religious sensitivities was crucial for the early church's shared life.
~2000 BC - 400 BC
Mosaic Law and Jewish Purity Codes
The Law of Moses establishes detailed regulations concerning diet, purity, and worship, including prohibitions against eating blood and strangled animals. These laws deeply shape Jewish identity and practice.
c. 6th Century BC
Babylonian Exile and Diaspora
Jewish exile in Babylon and subsequent dispersal throughout the Roman world leads to increased interaction between Jews and Gentiles. This period solidifies distinct Jewish customs and reinforces their separation from surrounding pagan practices.
c. 1st Century BC - 1st Century AD
Prevalence of Greco-Roman Paganism
Pagan religious practices in the Roman Empire often involved idol worship, temple feasts where sacrifices were shared, and a general permissiveness regarding sexual immorality. Many Gentile converts come from this background.
c. AD 45-50— this verse
Council of Jerusalem Convened
A significant council is held in Jerusalem to address the urgent question of whether Gentile converts to Christianity must follow the Mosaic Law. This event directly leads to the decree discussed in Acts 15.
c. AD 50
Apostolic Decree Issued
The Council of Jerusalem issues a letter to the Gentile believers, outlining specific abstinences to foster unity between Jewish and Gentile Christians. The decree includes abstaining from things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, things strangled, and blood.
c. AD 50-60
Paul's Epistles Address Gentile Practices
The Apostle Paul, in letters like 1 Corinthians, further navigates the complexities of Gentile Christian practices, particularly concerning eating food offered to idols, emphasizing love and consideration for weaker believers.
This is the earliest prohibition against eating blood, establishing it as a fundamental boundary given to all humanity, not just Israel. It highlights that blood, representing life, is sacred and not to be consumed, a principle echoed in the Jerusalem council's decree.
Leviticus 17:10-14This passage reiterates the prohibition of eating blood, explicitly stating that 'the life of the flesh is in the blood.' This reinforces the idea that blood is set apart for atonement and life, making its consumption deeply problematic from an Old Testament perspective.
1 Corinthians 8:1-13Paul addresses the very issue of eating food sacrificed to idols, explaining that while idols are nothing, participation can stumble weaker believers. This passage illuminates the 'pollutions of idols' by showing the practical and ethical considerations involved in maintaining unity within the diverse early church.
Deuteronomy 23:17-18While not directly about the four items in Acts 15:20, this passage speaks to maintaining purity and distinguishing God's people from the surrounding Canaanite practices. The council's decision, by prohibiting certain acts, served to set the Gentile believers apart and call them to a higher standard consistent with God's people.
Romans 14:1-23Paul discusses how believers with different convictions (e.g., about eating certain foods) should treat one another. This passage provides a framework for understanding the spirit behind the Jerusalem council's decision: to promote unity and avoid causing others to stumble, even in matters that might seem less crucial in themselves.
cambridgeActs 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."
20 . But that we write unto them ] The word is used primarily of a charge sent by a messenger, but also, as in Hebrews 13:22 , is often used of what is sent by letter (and hence comes the English word epistle ), and there can be little doubt that this is the sense in the present case, for though messengers were sent, they carried with them the d…
pulpitActs 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."
Verse 20. - The pollutions for pollutions, A.V.; what is strangled for things strangled, A.V. The pollutions. In the decree itself (ver. 29) this is explained by εἰδωλοθύτων, things offered to idols, though some apply the "pollutions" to all the things here mentioned, not the idols only. Later St. Paul somewhat enlarged the liberty of Gentile co…
This verse highlights that abstaining from idols and sexual immorality was considered on the same level as avoiding strangled meat and blood, not because all were morally equivalent, but because these particular practices were deeply ingrained cultural norms or connected to idolatry in the Gentile world, and thus presented significant stumbling blocks for Jewish believers. This points to a nuanced understanding of how ethical and ceremonial practices intersect, especially when bridging different cultural and religious backgrounds.
The Jerusalem council, composed of apostles and elders, is addressing a major dispute over whether Gentile believers need to follow Jewish laws, especially circumcision. After much discussion and Peter and Paul's powerful testimonies, James proposes a solution: a letter to the Gentile churches outlining specific prohibitions to maintain unity and avoid offending Jewish believers, focusing on practices common in pagan worship that would be abhorrent to Jews.
The Jerusalem council, composed of apostles and elders, is addressing a major dispute over whether Gentile believers need to follow Jewish laws, especially circumcision. After much discussion and Peter and Paul's powerful testimonies, James proposes a solution: a letter to the Gentile churches outlining specific prohibitions to maintain unity and avoid offending Jewish believers, focusing on practices common in pagan worship that would be abhorrent to Jews.
"but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood." — This verse highlights that abstaining from idols and sexual immorality was considered on the same level as avoiding strangled meat and blood, not because all were morally equivalent, but because thes…
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Last reviewed October 2026