The beloved physician Luke shared when Paul, Barnabas and their companions came to Jerusalem, “a certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed” were “saying” about the Gentile believers “That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” After much discussion among them, Peter spoke about this, and afterward James declared, “Men and brethren, hearken unto me. Simeon has declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up. That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, says the Lord, who does all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty of the book of Acts Luke shared how James suggested to, “write to them” where we read:
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols,
and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
The verse begins, “But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, ...” Luke began with the words, “but that we write unto them” which means “however, nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover that we, Jewish believers, send a letter of instruction to the Gentile believers”, “that they abstain from pollutions” or “that they, the Gentile believers, hold themselves from and refrain from ceremonially defilement and pollution” “of idols” which means “pertaining to images and likenesses to heathen gods whether real or imaginary”. Luke shared how “James” suggested that a “letter of instruction” should be “written” to the “Gentile believers” which would include telling them to “refrain” from worshiping or observing “images of false gods”.
The verse goes on to say, “... and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.” Luke continued with the words, “and from fornication” which is the Greek word “porneia” which means “and to stay apart from illicit sexual immorality such as adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, with animals or close relatives”, “and from things strangled” which means “apart from a suffocated and smothered animal deprived of life without the shedding of blood”, “and from blood” or “and apart from bloodshed or men or animals that have been slayed by violence or murder”. Luke shared how “James” said the letter to the “Gentile believers” should also include instructions concerning “sexual immorality, eating animals that were strangled and consuming blood”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “James” concluded that a letter should be “written” to the “Gentile believers” which would include four basic rules for them them follow. They were to keep from “idol worship, sexual immorality, eating animals offered to idols and consuming blood”. Rather than observing all the rules within the law of Moses including “circumcision”, the “Gentile believers” were to keep these four laws. God's desire is to have a loving personal relationship with every person who yields to His Son Jesus, and when they believe and trust in Him, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Afterward they should carefully consider the four rules given to the “Gentile believers” because each of them give allegiance to “gods” that are other than the One True God who is able to “save” them for all eternity.
Next time Luke shares how James says, “Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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