Acts 15:20 (KJV)

What does Acts 15:20 mean?

Acts 15:20 says that the early church leaders decided to write to non-Jewish believers, asking them to avoid things connected to idol worship, sexual immorality, eating meat from animals that were strangled, and consuming blood. These instructions were meant to help Gentile Christians live in a way that respected both their new faith and the sensitivities of Jewish believers.

The verse comes from a meeting in Jerusalem where the apostles and elders, led by James, were discussing what rules should apply to Gentile (non-Jewish) followers of Jesus. The leaders wanted to make it easier for Gentiles to join the church without requiring them to follow the entire Jewish law, but still asked them to avoid certain practices that were especially offensive or troubling to Jewish Christians.

The Greek behind Acts 15:20

• "Pollutions" (ἀλισγημάτων, alisgēmatōn) of "idols" (εἰδώλων, eidōlōn): The Greek here points to things that are spiritually or morally tainted by association with idol worship, not just the physical idols themselves. This highlights the concern about participating in pagan religious practices.
• "Fornication" (πορνείας, porneias): This Greek word often refers to sexual immorality in a broad sense, not just adultery, but any sexual activity outside the accepted norms of the time. It shows the leaders were concerned with moral behavior as well as ritual purity.
• "Strangled" (πνικτοῦ, pniktou): The Greek word means animals killed without draining the blood. This was forbidden in Jewish law, and asking Gentiles to avoid it helped maintain fellowship between Jewish and Gentile Christians.
• "Blood" (αἵματος, haimatos): The instruction to abstain from blood refers to the practice of consuming blood, which was also forbidden in the Jewish law and considered offensive.

Why Acts 15:20 matters

• Acts 15:20 clarifies that Gentile Christians were not required to adopt the full Jewish law, but were asked to respect certain practices to maintain unity in the early church.
• The verse shows how the early church leaders balanced freedom in Christ with sensitivity to the beliefs and customs of others, especially in a diverse community.
• This decision helped prevent unnecessary division between Jewish and Gentile believers, making it possible for the church to grow across cultural boundaries.