Acts 15:20

“But that we write unto them, etc.] Or send an epistle to them, to this effect, concerning the following things: that they abstain from pollutions of idols; that is, from eating things offered to idols; (see <441529>Acts 15:29) for not idolatry, or the worshipping of idols itself, is here spoken of; for that was no indifferent thing; and besides, these converted Gentiles were turned from that, and there was no danger of their returning to it; but eating things sacrificed to idols was an indifferent thing; but yet inasmuch as it had a tendency to lead to idolatry, and gave offence to the Jewish believers in the churches, and was a stumbling block to weak minds, who by the example of stronger…”

“But . . . that they abstain from pollutions of idols--that is, things polluted by having been offered in sacrifice to idols. The heathen were accustomed to give away or sell portions of such animals. From such food James would enjoin the Gentile converts to abstain, lest it should seem to the Jews that they were not entirely weaned from idolatry. and from fornication--The characteristic sin of heathendom, unblushingly practiced by all ranks and classes, and the indulgence of which on the part of the Gentile converts would to Jews, whose Scriptures branded it as an abomination of the heathen, proclaim them to be yet joined to their old idols. and from things strangled--which had the blood in…”

“That we write unto them - Expressing our judgment, or our views of the case. That they abstain - That they refrain from these things, or wholly avoid them. Pollutions of idols - The word rendered “pollutions” means any kind of “defilement.” But here it is evidently used to denote the flesh of those animals that were offered in sacrifice to idols. See Acts 15:29. That flesh, after being offered in sacrifice, was often exposed for sale in the markets, or was served up at feasts, 1 Corinthians 10:25-29. It became a very important question whether it was right for Christians to partake of it. The Jews would contend that it was, in fact, partaking of idolatry. The Gentile converts would allege…”

“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. Acts 15:21”

“15:20 Eating food offered to idols is sinful if it involves knowingly partaking of an idolatrous sacrifice (see Exod 20:4; Deut 5:8; 1 Cor 8:4-13; 10:14-30; Rev 2:14, 20). • Sexual immorality was common in the Greek world but is always sinful (Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18; Gal 5:19). • eating the meat of strangled animals: God’s law prohibits eating meat that has blood in it (Lev 17:13-14) or consuming blood (Lev 17:10-12), “for the life of every creature is in its blood” (Lev 17:14). Also, “It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible” (see Lev 17:11 and study note). This command was first given to Noah, the ancestor of Gentiles as well as Jews (Gen 9:4).”

“from pollutions: Act 15:29; Gen 35:2; Exo 20:3-5, Exo 20:23, Exo 34:15, Exo 34:16; Num 25:2; Psa 106:37-39; Eze 20:30, Eze 20:31; Co1 8:1, Co1 8:4-13, Co1 10:20-22, Co1 10:28; Rev 2:14, Rev 2:20, Rev 9:20, Rev 10:2, Rev 10:8 fornication: Co1 5:11, Co1 6:9, Co1 6:13, Co1 6:18, Co1 7:2; Co2 12:21; Gal 5:19; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; Th1 4:3; Heb 12:16, Heb 13:4; Pe1 4:3 things: Act 21:25; Gen 9:4; Lev 3:17, Lev 7:23-27, Lev 17:10-14; Deu 12:16, Deu 12:23-25, Deu 14:21; Deu 15:23; Sa1 14:32; Eze 4:14, Eze 33:25; Ti1 4:4, Ti1 4:5 Acts 15:21”