Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Acts 15:20–21

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

2 selected · 8 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

10 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 20

  1. Acts 15:29Rank 1 from verse 20
    Open

    29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

  2. Revelation 2:20Rank 2 from verse 20
    Open

    20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

  3. Revelation 2:14Rank 3 from verse 20
    Open

    14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

  4. Genesis 9:4Rank 4 from verse 20
    Open

    4But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

  5. Leviticus 3:17Rank 5 from verse 20
    Open

    17It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

From verse 21

  1. Acts 13:15Rank 1 from verse 21
    Open

    15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

  2. Acts 13:27Rank 2 from verse 21
    Open

    27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

  3. 2 Corinthians 3:14–15Rank 3 from verse 21
    Open

    14But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

    15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

  4. Luke 4:16Rank 4 from verse 21
    Open

    16¶ And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

  5. Nehemiah 8:1–12Rank 5 from verse 21
    Open

    1AND all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

    2And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

    3And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

    4And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

    5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

    6And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

    7Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

    8So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

    9¶ And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

    10Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

    11So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

    12And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 15:20

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

write

↗

Sense 1: To form letters or words, inscribe, record, compose, copy, or communicate in writing. Sense 2: By figure, to impress and establish something upon the heart or mind.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

idols

↗

False objects of worship or devotion; images treated as gods.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fornication

↗

1. Unlawful sexual relations. 2. By figure, unfaithful or illicit relations.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

blood

↗

Sense 1: The bodily fluid associated with physical life. Sense 2: Life taken, bloodshed, or guilt and responsibility for it. Sense 3: Kindred, shared human descent, or natural human nature. Sense 4: The juice of grapes.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 15:21

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

old

↗

1. Advanced in age or existing for a long time. 2. Of the stated or specified age. 3. Ancient, former, previous, or worn.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

time

↗

A particular portion or part of duration, whether past, present or future.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

read

↗

To perceive and understand written words, whether silently or by uttering them aloud.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sabbath

↗

An appointed holy rest or cessation from ordinary labour; especially the seventh-day rest, or a sabbatical rest for the land.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

day

↗

Sense 1: Light or the period of light between morning and evening, as distinguished from night. Sense 2: A complete daily cycle. Sense 3: A specified time, occasion, period, age, or season.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Selected passage

21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Selected passage

22Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.