Abstain Animals Blood Body Connexion Contaminated Death Desires Evil Flesh Fornication Gods Idolatry Idols Immorality Instructions Killed Law Lewdness Meat Offered Orders Polluted Pollution Pollutions Sexual Strangled Strangling Telling Themselves Unchastity Whoredom Written Yet
15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from {i} pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.
(i) From sacrifices, or from feasts which were kept in idol's temples.
15:20 That they abstain. Four items are mentioned, which are all embraced in the apostolic letter as things forbidden. They were four common customs of the Gentile world, and matters on which there should be a clear understanding.
From the pollutions of idols. The first does not mean only to refrain from worshiping idols, or eating meat offered in idol sacrifice, but from all the pollutions of the system of idolatry. Licentiousness and drunkenness received a sanction from religion. See Lecky's European Morals, chap. V. and Conybeare and Howson's Paul, chap. IV.
[From] fornication. Chastity was the exception instead of the rule among Gentiles at this period.
[From] things strangled. Because in strangling the blood was retained in the flesh.
[From] blood. The use of blood was prohibited by the Mosaic law (Le 17:14 De 12:16,23), and for wise reasons this prohibition was extended to Gentiles. The Roman epicures were wont to drown fowls in wine and then use the flesh. It was a common thing to drink wine mingled with blood. The only way to strike at these savage practices was to prohibit its use.
15:20 To abstain from fornication - Which even the philosophers among the heathens did not account any fault. It was particularly frequent in the worship of their idols, on which account they are here named together. And from things strangled - That is, from whatever had been killed, without pouring out the blood. When God first permitted man to eat flesh, he commanded Noah, and in him all his posterity, whenever they killed any creature for food, to abstain from the blood thereof. It was to be poured upon the ground as water: doubtless in honour of that blood which was in due time poured out for the sin of the world.
15:7-21 We see from the words purifying their hearts by faith, and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences will be purified from the guilt of sin, and we shall be freed from the burdens some try to lay upon the disciples of Christ. Paul and Barnabas showed by plain matters of fact, that God owned the preaching of the pure gospel to the Gentiles without the law of Moses; therefore to press that law upon them, was to undo what God had done. The opinion of James was, that the Gentile converts ought not to be troubled about Jewish rites, but that they should abstain from meats offered to idols, so that they might show their hatred of idolatry. Also, that they should be cautioned against fornication, which was not abhorred by the Gentiles as it should be, and even formed a part of some of their rites. They were counselled to abstain from things strangled, and from eating blood; this was forbidden by the law of Moses, and also here, from reverence to the blood of the sacrifices, which being then still offered, it would needlessly grieve the Jewish converts, and further prejudice the unconverted Jews. But as the reason has long ceased, we are left free in this, as in the like matters. Let converts be warned to avoid all appearances of the evils which they formerly practised, or are likely to be tempted to; and caution them to use Christian liberty with moderation and prudence.
Abstain Animals Blood Body Connexion Contaminated Death Desires Evil False. Flesh Food Fornication Gods Idolatry Idols Immorality Instead Instructions Killed Lewdness Meat Offered Orders Polluted Pollution Pollutions Sexual Strangled Strangling Telling Unchastity Ways Write Written
Abstain Animals Blood Body Connexion Contaminated Death Desires Evil False. Flesh Food Fornication Gods Idolatry Idols Immorality Instead Instructions Killed Lewdness Meat Offered Orders Polluted Pollution Pollutions Sexual Strangled Strangling Telling Unchastity Ways Write Written
