Acts 15:21 Meaning and Explanation
“For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →James notes that Moses has been preached in every city from ancient times, read aloud in the synagogues each sabbath.
What Does Acts 15:21 Mean?
James adds the reason for his counsel: in every city, from generations past, Moses is read aloud each sabbath in the synagogues. Jewish communities everywhere know the standards of the law, and Gentile believers will live and worship beside them — many having first heard of the God of Israel in those very synagogues.
The four abstentions, then, are not a new law but a bridge of love between believers of different upbringings, so that the table of the church can be shared and its witness remain credible. Consideration for how our conduct lands on the conscience of a neighbor is not compromise; it is charity. The gospel frees us precisely so that we may spend our freedom in love serving one another (Galatians 5:13).
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 15:21
What does Acts 15:21 mean?
James notes that Moses has been preached in every city from ancient times, read aloud in the synagogues each sabbath.