Act 15:20, 29, 21:25 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 20. But that we write unto them ] Four things are prohibited in this decree: 1. Pollutions of idols; 2. fornication; 3. things strangled; 4. blood. By the first , POLLUTIONS of IDOLS, or, as it is in , meats offered to idols , not only all idolatry was forbidden, but eating things offered in sacrifice to idols, knowing that they were thus offered, and joining with idolaters in their sacred feasts , which were always an incentive either to idolatry itself, or to the impure acts generally attendant on such festivals. By the second , FORNICATION, all uncleanness of every kind was prohibited; for πορνεια not only means fornication , but adultery, incestuous mixtures , and especially the prostitution which was so common at the idol temples, viz. in Cyprus , at the worship of Venus ; and the shocking disorders exhibited in the Bacchanalia, Lupercalia , and several others. By the third , THINGS STRANGLED, we are to understand the flesh of those animals which were strangled for the purpose of keeping the blood in the body , as such animals were esteemed a greater delicacy. By the fourth , BLOOD, we are to understand, not only the thing itself, for the reasons which I have assigned in the note on , and for others detailed at the end of this chapter; but also all cruelty, manslaughter, murder , &c., as some of the ancient fathers have understood it. Instead of τουαιμαρτος, blood , some have conjectured that we should read χοιρειας, swine's flesh ; for they cannot see, first , that there can be any harm in eating of blood; and, secondly , that, as the other three things neither have nor can have any moral evil in them, it would seem strange that they should be coupled with a thing which, on all hands, is confessed to have much moral turpitude. Answers to such trifling objections will be found at the end of the chapter. It is only necessary to add that this χοιρειας, which is the critical emendation of Dr. Bentley , is not supported by one MS. or version in existence. At the close of this verse, the Codex Bezae , and several others, add a fifth thing, And not to do to others what they would not have done to themselves . Though this is a very ancient reading, it does not appear to be genuine.

‏ Acts 15:20

Verse 20. But that we write unto them] Four things are prohibited in this decree: 1. Pollutions of idols; 2. fornication; 3. things strangled; 4. blood. By the first, POLLUTIONS of IDOLS, or, as it is in Ac 15:25, meats offered to idols, not only all idolatry was forbidden, but eating things offered in sacrifice to idols, knowing that they were thus offered, and joining with idolaters in their sacred feasts, which were always an incentive either to idolatry itself, or to the impure acts generally attendant on such festivals.

By the second, FORNICATION, all uncleanness of every kind was prohibited; for πορνεια not only means fornication, but adultery, incestuous mixtures, and especially the prostitution which was so common at the idol temples, viz. in Cyprus, at the worship of Venus; and the shocking disorders exhibited in the Bacchanalia, Lupercalia, and several others.

By the third, THINGS STRANGLED, we are to understand the flesh of those animals which were strangled for the purpose of keeping the blood in the body, as such animals were esteemed a greater delicacy.

By the fourth, BLOOD, we are to understand, not only the thing itself, for the reasons which I have assigned in the note on Ge 9:4, and for others detailed at the end of this chapter; but also all cruelty, manslaughter, murder, &c., as some of the ancient fathers have understood it.

Instead of τουαιμαρτος, blood, some have conjectured that we should read χοιρειας, swine's flesh; for they cannot see, first, that there can be any harm in eating of blood; and, secondly, that, as the other three things neither have nor can have any moral evil in them, it would seem strange that they should be coupled with a thing which, on all hands, is confessed to have much moral turpitude. Answers to such trifling objections will be found at the end of the chapter. It is only necessary to add that this χοιρειας, which is the critical emendation of Dr. Bentley, is not supported by one MS. or version in existence.

At the close of this verse, the Codex Bezae, and several others, add a fifth thing, And not to do to others what they would not have done to themselves. Though this is a very ancient reading, it does not appear to be genuine.

‏ Acts 15:29

Verse 29. Ye shall do well.] But, if they did not keep themselves from these things, they would do ill; that is, they would sin against God, whose Spirit had commanded them to keep from these things. And who can do any of these forbidden things, and keep either a guiltless or a tender conscience?

Fare-well.] An old English form of expressing good wishes and good will. It is compounded of [Anglo-Saxon] to go, and [A.S.], much, well, very much. Go well, go prosperously!-tantamount with good speed! may you succeed well! may God direct you! Like to that other form of sound words, God be with you! corrupted now into good by to ye! And of the same meaning with adieu! a Dieu, to God; that is, I commend you to God. All these terms savour not only of good will, or benevolence, but also of piety. Our pious ancestors believed that nothing was safe, nothing protected, nothing prosperous, over which the shield of God was not extended; and, therefore, in their familiar good wishes, they gave each other to God. The Greek word ερρωσθε, errhosthe, here used, from ρωννυμι, to strengthen, make strong, has nearly the same signification: be strong, courageous, active, be in health, and be prosperous! What a pity that such benevolent and pious wishes should degenerate into cool formalities, or unmeaning compliments!

‏ Acts 21:25

Verse 25. As touching the Gentiles] See the notes on Ac 15:1-21, and the additional observations at the end of that chapter. See Clarke on Ac 15:41