John Bengel Commentary - Acts 15:20 - 15:20

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John Bengel Commentary - Acts 15:20 - 15:20


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Act 15:20. Ἐπιστεῖλαι, that we send) an epistle. This forms the beginning of the Scriptures of the New Testament.-τῶν ἀλισγημάτων-αἵματος, from contaminations-blood) These were things which might have especially offended the partisans of Moses. Ἀλίσγημα is properly said of unclean meats (articles of food).-τῶν εἰδώλων, of idols) images: 1 Corinthians 8-τῆς πορνείας, from fornication) which was esteemed no disgrace among the Gentiles. Wherefore also Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, conjointly both exhorts against eating things sacrificed to idols, and forbids fornication; 1Co 8:1; 1Co 6:13. Fornication in Act 15:29, and ch. Act 21:25, is put in the last place, so as not to make a break in the words which refer to the subject of food: but here it is joined with things sacrificed to idols, because it was frequently an accompaniment of the worship of idols. Observe also, that the article in this place is very often employed, in order that the language may be the more express: in Act 15:29, on the other hand, it is never employed, in order that the language may be the milder. In chap. Act 21:25 it is twice employed (according to Rec. Text, τὸ εἰδωλόθυτον καὶ τὸ αἷμα).-τοῦ πνικτοῦ καὶ τοῦ αἵματος, from what is strangled and from blood) These are interdicted, not because they were forbidden by Noah, but inasmuch as they were forbidden by Moses: see foll. ver. [And in their ordinary diet it was a great scandal in the eyes of the Jews to partake of what was strangled and of blood, of which many feel even a natural horror.-V. g.] Πνικτὸν, what is strangled, is an expression applied to whatever has been sacrificed or killed, without the blood having been duly let out.