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OET OET-RV OET-LV ULT UST BSB BLB AICNT OEB WEB WMB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE MOF JPS ASV DRA YLT DBY RV WBS KJB BB GNV CB TNT WYC SR-GNT UHB Related Parallel Interlinear Dictionary Search
parallelVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH EZRA NEH EST JOB PSA PRO ECC SNG ISA JER LAM EZE DAN HOS JOEL AMOS OBA YNA MIC NAH HAB ZEP HAG ZEC MAL YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs ROM 1COR 2COR GAL EPH PHP COL 1TH 2TH 1TIM 2TIM TIT PHM HEB YAC 1PET 2PET 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN YUD REV
Acts Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28
Acts 15 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V41
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. This view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on the version abbreviation to see the verse in more of its context.
The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
OET (OET-RV) but to write to them to keep away from anything polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, and from strangled animals and eating or drinking blood.
OET-LV but to_write to_them which to_be_keeping_away from_the pollutions of_ the _idols, and the sexual_immorality, and the strangled animal, and the blood.
SR-GNT ἀλλὰ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τοῦ ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων, καὶ τῆς πορνείας, καὶ τοῦ πνικτοῦ, καὶ τοῦ αἵματος. ‡
(alla episteilai autois tou apeⱪesthai tōn alisgaʸmatōn tōn eidōlōn, kai taʸs porneias, kai tou pniktou, kai tou haimatos.)
Key: yellow:verbs, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT but to write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and sexual immorality and the strangled and blood.
UST Instead, we should write a letter to them about only a few things. They should not eat meat that people have offered to idols. They should not have sexual relations with someone to whom they are not married. They should not eat meat from animals that people have strangled to kill them for butchering. They should not eat or drink any blood.
BSB Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
BLB but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and sexual immorality, and that which is strangled, and from blood.
AICNT but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality,[fn] and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
15:20, Sexual immorality: Absent from P45.
OEB but we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood.
CSB but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.
NLT Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood.
NIV Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.
CEV We should simply write and tell them not to eat anything that has been offered to idols. They should be told not to eat the meat of any animal that has been strangled or that still has blood in it. They must also not commit any terrible sexual sins.
ESV but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
NASB but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.
LSB but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from sexual immorality and from what is strangled and from blood.
WEB but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
MSG (19-21)“So here is my decision: We’re not going to unnecessarily burden non-Jewish people who turn to the Master. We’ll write them a letter and tell them, ‘Be careful to not get involved in activities connected with idols, to guard the morality of sex and marriage, to not serve food offensive to Jewish Christians—blood, for instance.’ This is basic wisdom from Moses, preached and honored for centuries now in city after city as we have met and kept the Sabbath.”
NET but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood.
LSV but to write to them to abstain from the defilements of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing, and the blood;
FBV We should write to them and tell them to avoid food sacrificed to idols,[fn] sexual immorality, meat of animals that have been strangled, and from consuming blood.
15:20 Literally, “pollutions of idols.”
TCNT but that we write to them, telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols, from fornication, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
T4T Instead, we should write a letter to them requiring only four things: They should not eat meat/food that people have offered to idols, they should not have sex with someone to whom they are not married, they should not eat meat from animals that have been killed by being strangled {people have strangled}, and they should not eat the blood of animals.
LEB but we should write a letter to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood.
NRSV but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood.
NKJV but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
BBE But that we give them orders to keep themselves from things offered to false gods, and from the evil desires of the body, and from the flesh of animals put to death in ways against the law, and from blood.
MOF No MOF ACTs book available
ASV but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
DRA But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
YLT but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing; and the blood;
DBY but to write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
RV but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
WBS But that we write to them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from lewdness, and from things strangled, and from blood.
KJB But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
(But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. )
BB But that we write vnto them, that they absteyne themselues from fylthynesse of idols, and fro fornication, and from strangled, and from blood.
(But that we write unto them, that they absteyne themselves from filthiness of idols, and from fornication, and from strangled, and from blood.)
GNV But that we send vnto them, that they abstaine themselues from filthinesse of idoles, and fornication, and that that is strangled, and from blood.
(But that we send unto them, that they abstaine themselves from filthinesse of idoles, and fornication, and that that is strangled, and from blood. )
CB but to wryte vnto them, that they absteyne them selues from fylthynesse of Idols, from whordome, and from strangled, and bloude.
(but to write unto them, that they absteyne themselves from filthiness of Idols, from whordome, and from strangled, and blood.)
TNT but that we write vnto them that they abstayne them selves from filthynes of ymages from fornicacion from straglyd and from bloude.
(but that we write unto them that they abstain them selves from filthiness of ymages from fornication from straglyd and from blood. )
WYC to be not disesid, but to write to hem, that thei absteyne hem fro defoulingis of maumetis, and fro fornicacioun, and stranglid thingis, and blood.
(to be not disesid, but to write to them, that they absteyne them from defoulingis of maumetis, and from fornicacioun, and stranglid things, and blood.)
LUT sondern schreibe ihnen, daß sie sich enthalten von Unsauberkeit der Abgötter und von Hurerei und vom Erstickten und vom Blut.
(rather schreibe ihnen, that they/she/them itself/yourself/themselves enthalten from Unsauberkeit the Abgötter and from Hurerei and from_the Erstickten and from_the blood.)
CLV sed scribere ad eos ut abstineant se a contaminationibus simulacrorum, et fornicatione, et suffocatis, et sanguine.[fn]
(sed scribere to them as abstineant se a contaminationibus simulacrorum, and fornicatione, and suffocatis, and sanguine.)
15.20 Et suffocatis. Suffocatum est morticinum, de quo Ezechiel dicit: Omne morticinum et captum a bestia de avibus et pecoribus, sacerdotes non comedant Ezech. 4.. Hoc præceptum convenit servare illis, qui uncti sunt oleo spirituali, ne comedant illud, cujus sanguis non est effusus, quod epistola apostolorum servandum decrevit. Et sanguine. RAB. Effusione humani sanguinis, etc., usque ad sed ut casti sint et abstineant.
15.20 And suffocatis. Suffocatum it_is morticinum, about quo Ezechiel dicit: Omne morticinum and captum a bestia about avibus and pecoribus, sacerdotes not/no comedant Ezech. 4.. Hoc præceptum convenit servare to_them, who uncti are oleo spirituali, ne comedant illud, cuyus sanguis not/no it_is effusus, that epistola apostolorum servandum decrevit. And sanguine. RAB. Effusione humani blood, etc., usque to but as casti sint and abstineant.
UGNT ἀλλὰ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τοῦ ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων, καὶ τῆς πορνείας, καὶ τοῦ πνικτοῦ, καὶ τοῦ αἵματος.
(alla episteilai autois tou apeⱪesthai tōn alisgaʸmatōn tōn eidōlōn, kai taʸs porneias, kai tou pniktou, kai tou haimatos.)
SBL-GNT ἀλλὰ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τοῦ ⸀ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ τῆς πορνείας καὶ ⸀τοῦ πνικτοῦ καὶ τοῦ αἵματος·
(alla episteilai autois tou ⸀apeⱪesthai tōn alisgaʸmatōn tōn eidōlōn kai taʸs porneias kai ⸀tou pniktou kai tou haimatos; )
TC-GNT [fn]ἀλλὰ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τοῦ ἀπέχεσθαι [fn]ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ τῆς πορνείας καὶ [fn]τοῦ πνικτοῦ καὶ τοῦ αἵματος.
(alla episteilai autois tou apeⱪesthai apo tōn alisgaʸmatōn tōn eidōlōn kai taʸs porneias kai tou pniktou kai tou haimatos.)
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
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).
Circumcision in the New Testament
Circumcision (cutting off the male foreskin) was widely practiced in the ancient Near East (see Jer 9:25-26). For Jews, it had religious significance as the sign of the covenant that God had established with the people of Israel (Gen 17:9-14; Josh 5:2; John 7:22; Acts 7:8; Sirach 44:20). It was normally performed on the eighth day of a male infant’s life (Gen 17:12; Lev 12:3; Luke 1:59; Acts 7:8). The New Testament notes the circumcision of John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and Timothy (Luke 1:59; 2:21; Acts 16:2-3; Phil 3:5). Circumcision became a metaphor for the renewal of a person’s relationship with God (Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; Rom 2:28-29). In the late 40s AD, some Jewish Christians tried to require Gentile Christians to undergo circumcision (Acts 15:1, 5; see 21:20-21; Gal 2:4, 11-13), to which Paul and Barnabas objected (Acts 15:2). The ensuing church council at Jerusalem settled the matter in favor of not requiring Gentiles to be circumcised (15:19-21, 28-29).
Paul insisted that “it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised” (1 Cor 7:19). “What is important is faith expressing itself in love” (Gal 5:6). In Galatians, Paul argued against vigorous Jewish opponents and insisted that everyone enters God’s family simply through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 2:14-21). Circumcision is not required for acceptance by God (Gal 5:6). The cross of Christ is the way that sinners enter into covenant with God (Gal 2:14-21; Col 2:11-15).
Passages for Further Study
Gen 17:9-14; Lev 12:3; Josh 5:2-9; Jer 9:25-26; Luke 1:59; 2:21; John 7:22-24; Acts 7:8; 15:1-5, 19-21, 28-31; 16:2-3; 21:18-24; Rom 2:25-29; 1 Cor 7:17-19; Gal 2:3-5, 11-21; 5:6; 6:15; Phil 3:5-9; Col 2:11-23
Note 1 topic: translate-versebridge
James lists four regulations in this verse and he gives the reason for them in the next verse. To put the reason before the result, you could create a verse bridge for verses 19–21. It might say something like this: “Therefore, I judge that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. However, since Moses has had those proclaiming him in every city from ancient generations—he is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath—we should write to the Gentiles to abstain from the pollution of idols and sexual immorality and strangled things and blood.”
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων
˱from˲_the pollutions ¬the ˱of˲_idols
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of pollution, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “from things that idols have polluted”
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων
˱from˲_the pollutions ¬the ˱of˲_idols
If your language would not use a possessive form here, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “from things that idols have polluted”
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων
˱from˲_the pollutions ¬the ˱of˲_idols
James is likely talking about food that has been offered to idols, and he is speaking as if being offered to idols has polluted this food. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “from eating food that has been offered to idols”
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τοῦ πνικτοῦ, καὶ τοῦ αἵματος
¬which the strangled_‹animal› and ¬the blood
God did not allow the Jews to consume blood in any form. Therefore, for one thing, they could not eat the meat from an animal that had been strangled, because the blood would not have been properly drained from the body of the animal. For another thing, while James is not saying that the Gentiles should have no contact at all with blood, he is saying implicitly that they should not consume blood. You can include this information if your readers need it to understand the sentence. Alternate translation: “from eating the meat of animals that have been killed by strangulation, because this meat still contains blood, and from consuming blood”
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj
καὶ τοῦ πνικτοῦ
and and the strangled_‹animal›
James is using the adjective strangled as a noun to mean animals that have been killed by strangulation. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “animals that have been killed by strangulation”
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
τοῦ πνικτοῦ
¬which the strangled_‹animal›
James is referring by association to meat from animals that have been killed by strangulation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “from eating the meat of animals that have been killed by strangulation”