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Selected Verse: Acts 21:25 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 21:25	Strong Concordance	As [1161] touching [4012] the Gentiles [1484] which believe [4100], we [2249] have written [1989] and concluded [2919] that they [846] observe [5083] no [3367] such thing [5108], save only [1508] that they keep [5442] themselves [846] from [5037] things offered to idols [1494], and [2532] from blood [129], and [2532] from strangled [4156], and [2532] from fornication [4202].
	King James	As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
touching the Gentiles . . . we have written and concluded that they observe no such things, &c.--This shows that with all their conciliation to Jewish prejudice, the Church of Jerusalem was taught to adhere to the decision of the famous council held there (Act 15:19-29).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

touching the Gentiles . . . we have written and concluded that they observe no such things, &c.--This shows that with all their conciliation to Jewish prejudice, the Church of Jerusalem was taught to adhere to the decision of the famous council held there (Act 15:19-29).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
As touching the Gentiles - In regard to the Gentile converts. It might be expedient for Paul to do what could not be enjoined on the Gentiles. They could not command the Gentile converts to observe those ceremonies, while yet it might be proper, for the sake of peace, that the converts to Christianity from among the Jews should regard them. The conduct of the Christians at Jerusalem in giving this advice, and of Paul in following it, may be easily vindicated. If it be objected, as it has been by infidels, that it looks like double-dealing; that it was designed to deceive the Jews in Jerusalem, and to make them believe that Paul actually conformed to the ceremonial law, when his conduct among the Gentiles showed that he did not, we may reply: (1) That the observance of that law was not necessary in order to salvation; (2) That it would have been improper to have enjoined its observance on the Gentile converts as necessary, and therefore it was never done; (3) That when the Jews urged its observance as necessary to justification and salvation, Paul strenuously opposed this view of it everywhere; (4) Yet that, as a matter of expediency, he did not oppose its being observed either by the Jews, or by the converts made among the Jews. In fact, there is other evidence besides the case before us that Paul himself continued to observe some, at least, of the Jewish rites, and his conduct in public at Jerusalem was in strict accordance with his conduct in other places. See Act 18:18. The sum of the whole matter is this, that when the observance of the Jewish ceremonial law was urged as necessary to justification and acceptance with God, Paul resisted it; when it was demanded that its observance should be enjoined on the Gentiles, he opposed it; in all other cases he made no opposition to it, and was ready himself to comply with it, and willing that others should also. We have written - Act 15:20, Act 15:29.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

As touching the Gentiles - In regard to the Gentile converts. It might be expedient for Paul to do what could not be enjoined on the Gentiles. They could not command the Gentile converts to observe those ceremonies, while yet it might be proper, for the sake of peace, that the converts to Christianity from among the Jews should regard them. The conduct of the Christians at Jerusalem in giving this advice, and of Paul in following it, may be easily vindicated. If it be objected, as it has been by infidels, that it looks like double-dealing; that it was designed to deceive the Jews in Jerusalem, and to make them believe that Paul actually conformed to the ceremonial law, when his conduct among the Gentiles showed that he did not, we may reply:

(1) That the observance of that law was not necessary in order to salvation;

(2) That it would have been improper to have enjoined its observance on the Gentile converts as necessary, and therefore it was never done;

(3) That when the Jews urged its observance as necessary to justification and salvation, Paul strenuously opposed this view of it everywhere;

(4) Yet that, as a matter of expediency, he did not oppose its being observed either by the Jews, or by the converts made among the Jews.

In fact, there is other evidence besides the case before us that Paul himself continued to observe some, at least, of the Jewish rites, and his conduct in public at Jerusalem was in strict accordance with his conduct in other places. See Act 18:18. The sum of the whole matter is this, that when the observance of the Jewish ceremonial law was urged as necessary to justification and acceptance with God, Paul resisted it; when it was demanded that its observance should be enjoined on the Gentiles, he opposed it; in all other cases he made no opposition to it, and was ready himself to comply with it, and willing that others should also.

We have written - Act 15:20, Act 15:29.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Blood See on Act 15:29.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
As touching the Gentiles - See the notes on Acts 15:1-21 (note), and the additional observations at the end of that chapter.

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¹⁹ Wherefore [1352] my [1473] sentence is [2919], that we trouble [3926] not [3361] them, which [3588] from among [575] the Gentiles [1484] are turned [1994] to [1909] God [2316]:
²⁰ But [235] that we write [1989] unto them [846], that they abstain [567] from [575] pollutions [234] of idols [1497], and [2532] from fornication [4202], and [2532] from things strangled [4156], and [2532] from blood [129].
²¹ For [1063] Moses [3475] of [1537] old [744] time [1074] hath [2192] in every [2596] city [4172] them that preach [2784] him [846], being read [314] in [1722] the synagogues [4864] every [2596] [3956] sabbath day [4521].
²² Then [5119] pleased it [1380] the apostles [652] and [2532] elders [4245], with [4862] the whole [3650] church [1577], to send [3992] chosen [1586] men [435] of [1537] their own company [846] to [1519] Antioch [490] with [4862] Paul [3972] and [2532] Barnabas [921]; namely, Judas [2455] surnamed [1941] Barsabas [923], and [2532] Silas [4609], chief [2233] men [435] among [1722] the brethren [80]:
²³ And they wrote [1125] letters by [1223] them [5495] [846] after this manner [3592]; The apostles [652] and [2532] elders [4245] and [2532] brethren [80] send greeting [5463] unto the brethren [80] which [3588] are of [1537] the Gentiles [1484] in [2596] Antioch [490] and [2532] Syria [4947] and [2532] Cilicia [2791]:
²⁴ Forasmuch as [1894] we have heard [191], that [3754] certain [5100] which went out [1831] from [1537] us [2257] have troubled [5015] you [5209] with words [3056], subverting [384] your [5216] souls [5590], saying [3004], Ye must be circumcised [4059], and [2532] keep [5083] the law [3551]: to whom [3739] we gave [1291] no [3756] such commandment [1291]:
²⁵ It seemed good [1380] unto us [2254], being assembled [1096] with one accord [3661], to send [3992] chosen [1586] men [435] unto [4314] you [5209] with [4862] our [2257] beloved [27] Barnabas [921] and [2532] Paul [3972],
²⁶ Men [444] that have hazarded [3860] their [846] lives [5590] for [5228] the name [3686] of our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].
²⁷ We have sent [649] therefore [3767] Judas [2455] and [2532] Silas [4609], who [846] shall [518] also [2532] tell [518] you the same things [846] by [1223] mouth [3056].
²⁸ For [1063] it seemed good [1380] to the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], and [2532] to us [2254], to lay upon [2007] you [5213] no [3367] greater [4119] burden [922] than [4133] these [5130] necessary things [1876];
²⁹ That ye abstain [567] from meats offered to idols [1494], and [2532] from blood [129], and [2532] from things strangled [4156], and [2532] from fornication [4202]: from [1537] which [3739] if ye keep [1301] yourselves [1438], ye shall do [4238] well [2095]. Fare ye well [4517].

²⁹ That ye abstain [567] from meats offered to idols [1494], and [2532] from blood [129], and [2532] from things strangled [4156], and [2532] from fornication [4202]: from [1537] which [3739] if ye keep [1301] yourselves [1438], ye shall do [4238] well [2095]. Fare ye well [4517].

²⁰ But [235] that we write [1989] unto them [846], that they abstain [567] from [575] pollutions [234] of idols [1497], and [2532] from fornication [4202], and [2532] from things strangled [4156], and [2532] from blood [129].

¹⁸ And [1161] Paul [3972] after this tarried [4357] there yet [2089] a good [2425] while [2250], and then took his leave [657] of the brethren [80], and sailed thence [1602] into [1519] Syria [4947], and [2532] with [4862] him [846] Priscilla [4252] and [2532] Aquila [207]; having shorn [2751] his head [2776] in [1722] Cenchrea [2747]: for [1063] he had [2192] a vow [2171].