Acts 15:19-21

Expanded Bible

¹⁹ “So I ·think [conclude; judge] we should not ·bother [trouble; cause trouble for] the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead, we should write a letter to them telling them these things: Stay away from food ·that has been offered to idols (which makes it unclean) [^Lpolluted by idols], ·any kind of sexual sin [or prohibited marriages; ^Cthe Greek word could mean any sexual sin, or marriages viewed as incestuous by OT law], eating animals that have been strangled [^Cleaving the blood inside, which the OT law prohibited; Gen. 9:4], and blood [^Cconsuming blood was forbidden in the OT law; Lev. 17:10–12]. ²¹ They should do these things, because for a long time in every city ·the law of Moses has been taught [^LMoses has been preached/proclaimed; ^Creferring to the Torah (the Law)]. And it is still read in the synagogue every Sabbath day.” [^CThese guidelines were to keep from offending pious Jews in the community and so promote unity in the Church.]