Your answer is in the answer to this question, why does verse 21 start with the word for?
Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
The Ten Commandments are the Covenant, did you know?
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Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Thank you, @Gideon300. For a newcomer to Christian Chat such as myself, that’s a very illuminating comment. Personally I’ve come to see Acts 15 as one of the most important chapters in the whole of the New Testament outside the Gospels.
“For” is a conjunction. It’s the usual translation (as here) of the Greek conjunction gar, which occurs over a thousand times in the NT.
The twenty-seven books of the NT add up to just under 8,000 verses, meaning that gar occurs, on the average, once in every eight verses. You might say it’s scattered around very liberally. I don’t know the answer to your question about its significance in this particular verse. Would you be so kind as to explain it to me?
Thanks
Bart
The word for in verse 21 assigns a reason for what was just said in verse 20
Acts 15:19-21 (ESV):
19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 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. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.
@Qt, I appreciate your effort to be succinct and to avoid wasting words. That’s something I try to do myself, when I can manage it. In this instance, however, I regret to say you’re being too cryptic for me to penetrate your meaning.
What you seem to be saying is that verses 21 and 19-20 stand in a relationship of cause and effect. That would mean they could be rearranged as follows:
21 Because from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues, 19 therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 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.
Is that the meaning you’re trying to convey? If so, I see a difficulty, in the form of the word “therefore” (Greek dio) that is already in place at the beginning of v. 19. What that suggests to me is that the cause and effect relationship truly belongs, not to verses 21 and 19-20 respectively, but to verses 16-18 (the quotation from Amos) and 19-20. Where have you found a vacant space in that jigsaw puzzle to slot in v. 21?
Context...
The chapter clearly tells us that the law is good and holy.
I agree we are released from the law. Released from the penalty, released from the death that we deserve
But "if" Paul was dead to the law... why did he say... Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Verse 6 states that "we may serve in the new way of the Spirit".
Verse 25 states "with the mind I myself serve the law of God.
Paul was serving the law of God.
Is this off thread?i thinking not but use it anyway it a fact of gospel Truth .
Vomit" of the Old Ways
When Peter quotes that proverb about the dog and the vomit, he is specifically warning against false religious teachers. Religion without the Holy Spirit always defaults to human tradition for several reasons: [1, 2, 3]
The Ultimate Danger of Religious Tradition
When people cling to made-up religious ways, they become completely blind to what the Holy Spirit is trying to do now. They prefer a dead, manageable system over a living, moving God. They are trying to preserve a corpse instead of receiving new life.
As To point out with Galatians 4:18, Paul was fighting this exact issue: people trying to drag the believers back into old, rigid, made-up laws instead of letting them walk in the freedom of the Spirit.
Seeing how easily people fall into the trap of holding onto dead traditions, how do you keep your own heart focused on the fresh, daily movement of the Holy Spirit?
Vomit" of the Old Ways
When Peter quotes that proverb about the dog and the vomit, he is specifically warning against false religious teachers. Religion without the Holy Spirit always defaults to human tradition for several reasons: [1, 2, 3]
- Familiarity Over Freedom: The flesh craves familiarity. Even if the old ways, old mindsets, or old religious rules are toxic and dead (like vomit), they are predictable. Walking in the Holy Spirit requires stepping into the unknown and trusting God day by day, which terrifies the flesh. [1, 2]
- Made-Up Rules Create Control: In Mark 7:7-9, Jesus severely rebuked the religious leaders for this exact thing, saying they were "teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" and laying aside the commandment of God to hold onto human tradition. Made-up rules let religious people play judge over others. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- An Outward Show of Holiness: It is much easier to create a made-up checklist of what to wear, where to go, and who to judge than it is to actually surrender your heart to the Holy Spirit.
The Ultimate Danger of Religious Tradition
When people cling to made-up religious ways, they become completely blind to what the Holy Spirit is trying to do now. They prefer a dead, manageable system over a living, moving God. They are trying to preserve a corpse instead of receiving new life.
As To point out with Galatians 4:18, Paul was fighting this exact issue: people trying to drag the believers back into old, rigid, made-up laws instead of letting them walk in the freedom of the Spirit.
Seeing how easily people fall into the trap of holding onto dead traditions, how do you keep your own heart focused on the fresh, daily movement of the Holy Spirit?
You say you live by the Spirit, yet the Spirit of God never leads anyone to reject the very commandments Christ gave. Christ is the Word of God. He is one with the Father. The commandments did not come from a lesser authority. They came from God Himself.
You say God's requirements are higher than the Ten Commandments. Jesus agreed that they are higher, but He never abolished the commandments. He magnified them. He taught that murder begins with hatred, adultery begins with lust, and that every idle word will be judged. He did not replace God's commandments. He brought them into the heart.
You say God's demands no longer apply to you because you are in Christ. Where did Jesus ever teach that? Christ never said, "Since you are in Me, My Father's commandments no longer apply." Instead, He taught the opposite.
Jesus did not tell His disciples to say, "Christ lives in me." He said, "Abide in Me, and I in you." (John 15:4). Notice that Jesus first commands us to abide in Him. The relationship is not one where He obeys instead of us. It is one where we remain in Him, and because we remain in Him, we bear good fruit. A branch does not become the vine. It remains attached to the vine and receives life from it. Jesus then explained exactly what abiding means: "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."(John 15:10). Again He said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14:23). Abiding in Christ is not an excuse to stop obeying Him. It is a relationship in which we remain faithful to His words and His commandments.
You ask whether Jesus checks Himself to see if He is obeying the Ten Commandments. Jesus does not need to check Himself because He is without sin. He perfectly keeps the commandments because they reflect His own holy character. If we abide in Him, we will walk as He walked, not because we are forced to, but because we love Him.
You accuse others of legalism, yet Jesus never called obedience legalism. He called it love.
Jesus said, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." (Matthew 19:17).
When asked which commandments, He immediately began quoting from the Ten Commandments: "You shall not murder," "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "Honor your father and your mother," and, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 19:18-19).
Jesus also said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21).
He warned, "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."(Matthew 5:19).
He declared, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." (Matthew 5:17-18).
He said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15).
Again He said, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me." (John 14:21).
Jesus warned that many would call Him "Lord" while refusing to obey Him. He will say to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:23). Lawlessness is not the fruit of abiding in Christ. Jesus taught that those who abide in Him keep His commandments, do the will of the Father, and bear good fruit.
The choice is still before every one of us. We can follow the traditions and teachings of men like you do, or we can follow the plain words of our Lord. Jesus never taught that obedience was optional. He taught that those who love Him keep His commandments, those who do the Father's will enter the kingdom, and those who want to enter into life must keep the commandments. Those are His words, and they remain true today.
Do you not understand plain English? Maybe this will help. I'm English by birth. I live in Australia. The laws here are not the same as in England. I'd be in prison there because of my views about Islam. I am not a Jew, so the law has never applied to me. "Hear O Israel......." Even if the law did apply to me prior to my being born again, I've relocated. Once I lived as a citizen of the Kingdom of darkness. God took me out of Satan's kingdom and brought into His light. My citizenship is in heaven.
In heaven, which is my home, not my destination, there is a new law at work. It's the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. The Galatian church was tempted to put themselves back under the law of Moses. Paul rebuked them sharply. If I returned to live in England, I would be subject to the law of England. I'd put myself back under the law that would see me in prison.
Legalists seem to to think that being led by the Spirit is getting away with sinning. That's false. The law is not of faith, as Paul told the Galatians. And whatever is not of faith is sin. Outward observance of a set of rules was never God's intent. And how exactly do you keep the law?
A great example is the Sabbath. Oh how legalists love the Sabbath. They can look down their religious noses and condemn those who do not agree with their false doctrine. In order to obey the Sabbath rules, you have to decide what work means. According to the experts, you can't even turn on a light switch. So how do you manage? Keep the lights on all day and night? Your baby needs a bottle and it must be warmed up. Are you allowed to put the bottle in the microwave? Or is that work? Drive to church? Oh no, that's work too. Walk? Only a mile. You are not allowed to raise a sweat. In Australia, stepping out on the porch will raise a sweat in summer.
If you are bound by the law then you are subject to its demands and its punishments. Except no one is being killed for breaking the Sabbath laws these days. No Christian is being stoned for adultery . So legalists can't live according to the law, even if that was OK with God.
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of Moses. Are you on your way to church and you see a woman struggling to change a tyre? Do you stop to help? What does the Holy Spirit say to you? Most likely He would have you stop to help.
In heaven, which is my home, not my destination, there is a new law at work. It's the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. The Galatian church was tempted to put themselves back under the law of Moses. Paul rebuked them sharply. If I returned to live in England, I would be subject to the law of England. I'd put myself back under the law that would see me in prison.
Legalists seem to to think that being led by the Spirit is getting away with sinning. That's false. The law is not of faith, as Paul told the Galatians. And whatever is not of faith is sin. Outward observance of a set of rules was never God's intent. And how exactly do you keep the law?
A great example is the Sabbath. Oh how legalists love the Sabbath. They can look down their religious noses and condemn those who do not agree with their false doctrine. In order to obey the Sabbath rules, you have to decide what work means. According to the experts, you can't even turn on a light switch. So how do you manage? Keep the lights on all day and night? Your baby needs a bottle and it must be warmed up. Are you allowed to put the bottle in the microwave? Or is that work? Drive to church? Oh no, that's work too. Walk? Only a mile. You are not allowed to raise a sweat. In Australia, stepping out on the porch will raise a sweat in summer.
If you are bound by the law then you are subject to its demands and its punishments. Except no one is being killed for breaking the Sabbath laws these days. No Christian is being stoned for adultery . So legalists can't live according to the law, even if that was OK with God.
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of Moses. Are you on your way to church and you see a woman struggling to change a tyre? Do you stop to help? What does the Holy Spirit say to you? Most likely He would have you stop to help.
No the word for in verse 21 assigns a reason for what said in verse 20. The word therefore in verse 19 assigns a conclusion for what was stated in the previous verses.
Are you a sinner? Then the law is for you if used lawfully.
1Tim 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1Tim 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Tim 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Sure but it is a lot to unpack, so please bear with me. It took some time. I try not to cut and paste or be rash.
Sorry about any typos. I am sure there are many.
Gen 6:3 says God said, My spirit shall not always strive (plead) with man.
In respect to this the Law was not yet written. Yet in Gen 26:5 says Abraham obeyed God's voice.
What did God's voice tell him to obey?
To keep His charge (watch by his example), His Commandments, His Statutes and His Laws.
Moses as you know wrote this. Moses would not have wrote it the way he did if these Commandments, Statutes and Laws were different then the ones God had given him to walk and write in his charge, watch. Take note however the judgements are not mentioned. Abraham walked with God.
How?
Through God's Spirit through His voice. He believed, he had faith in God and lived accordingly. Not in letters in stone and parchment but in the Spirit of the living God writing upon the fleshly tables of his heart. How do we know?
Let's jump ahead to Rom 1:15-20. In speaking of the Gospel Paul said therein the Gospel is the righteousness of God revealed from Faith to faith; for the just (righteous) shall live by faith keeping in mind that God said that in the time of Noah before the flood that he strove, pleaded with man. And that His testimony in regard to Abraham was that Abraham obeyed His voice, kept His charge (watch, by his example), His Commandments, His Statutes, and His Laws.
Why is it important to keep in mind? Because immediately after saying that the righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel because the just (righteous) shall live by faith Paul gives a reason for the Gospel. He says in Rom1:18 For (because) the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold (hold back) the truth in unrighteousness.
This is an indicative (factual) statement being spoken in the present tense. It applies to all until His return.
So, the question should arise how is it we hold back the truth in unrighteousness if this applies to us?
Paul answers this in Rom 1:19. There he says, Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
In the testimony about Abraham obeying God's voice and what our Lord God said in regard to His Spirit striving with man before the flood we can know what God is making known to man and is manifesting in them.
And that is His Commandments, Statutes, and His Laws. And this from the creation of the world, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
As we continue we see that Paul in chapter one gives a summary of unrighteous things being done and closes the chapter with those who do such things are worthy of death and not them but those take pleasure in them that do so.
With that he starts to make the connection with the things of unrighteousness mentioned in chapter 1 to the Law in chapter two. In respect to those who do such things and judge others Paul says we will be judge by our deeds. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath.... to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; they are all without excuse. For not the hearers of the Law are just(righteous) before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified (made righteous). For when the Gentiles, which have not the law (written on stone and Parchment), do by nature the things contained in the law ( for God has manifested in them from the creation of the world), these, having not the written law on stone and parchment, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, For God has manifested in them, striving, pleading with them from the creation of the world. Their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts through what God manifested to them the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; )
As we continue in chapter 2 we see that the Jews rest in this Law that was mentioned in respect to the list bad things done in Rom 1. And in this resting they know God's will and appovest the things that are more excellent being instructed out of the Law. Confident that through this knowledge they are guides to the blind and light unto to those who are in darkness. But with all this knowing they themselves need to be taught because when they teach thou shalt not commit adultery and steal they themselves are doin that which they are teaching not to do. As the beginning of the chapter stated for wherein thou judgest (teaches) another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. They were committing idolatry taking the glory of God and making unto the image of man and beasts, men with men and women with women doing that which is not appropriate. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 3 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. and at the same time teaching the ways of God therefore blaspheming and dishonoring Him. They were given the oracles (the divine utterances) of God but were not living what they professed. They were living a lie. But shall the truth of God come to no affect? No, in no way! Let God be true and every man a liar. For the truth of God abounded regardless of the lie we live or lived. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
But now the righteousness of God is manifested without the Law that gave us the knowledge of sin, the divine utterances that were written down as our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ and entrusted unto the Jews. Even the righteousness of God which is through faith of Jesus Christ INTO all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: The righteousness which is of Faith, that which is of God and is established through the Gospel that the Just live by. For the righteousness of God speaketh on this wise, Say not in our, bring Christ down from above or up from the deep. But what does it say, The Word, the Law is in our heart through Christ that we do it. That IS THE WORD OF FAITH in which we preach. That with the heart man believes INTO righteousness and with the mouth we assent, confess unto the Lord. This is the Faith that the Just, the righteous live by. This is the faith that establishes the Law. (Rom 3:1-32; 10:6-10)
What is being read in the synagogues every Sabbath? And why bring it up if it weren’t relevant.
So why is it relevant?
Let’s ask it this way. Why would James say that Moses is read in every city on Sabbath is the reason for just saying to the Gentiles that they should abstain from blood, things strangled, idols and fornication?
Are they all that matter or is there more?
Thank you for taking the time to explain your view. I think we are still using the word "Law" in different ways, and that is why I asked for clarification.
You seem to use "Law" to mean God's voice, the Holy Spirit, conscience, faith, the Gospel, and the written commandments all at the same time. The Bible, however, distinguishes between these things.
For example, Genesis 26:5 says Abraham obeyed God's voice and kept His commandments, statutes, and laws. But it does not tell us that these were only an unwritten spiritual law. It simply says Abraham obeyed what God commanded him.
Likewise, Romans 1:19-20 says people can know that God exists through creation, so they are without excuse. It does not say every person instinctively knows all of God's commandments. If they did, why did God later reveal His law through Moses, and why did Jesus spend so much time teaching people how to live?
Romans 2:14-15 says the Gentiles show "the work of the law" written in their hearts. It does not say the entire Law is written in every heart. A conscience can tell us that murder, theft, or lying are wrong, but it does not teach things like the Sabbath, the Passover, or the detailed commandments God later revealed.
When Jesus was asked about eternal life, He did not answer, "Follow the inner law in your heart." He said, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." (Matthew 19:17, NKJV). When asked which ones, Jesus named specific commandments, showing that God's law is not left undefined.
There is also another point that I am struggling to reconcile with your explanation.
You seem to describe God's Spirit as dwelling in and guiding all people from creation onward in the same way believers receive the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant. Yet Jesus spoke of a future giving of the Spirit.
Jesus said, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever." (John 14:16, NKJV)
Again He said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you." (John 16:7, NKJV)
After His resurrection He told the disciples to wait for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4-5), which was fulfilled at Pentecost.
Of course, there were exceptions before Christ's ascension. Scripture records specific individuals receiving the Spirit for particular purposes. For example, God filled Bezalel with His Spirit to give him wisdom and skill for the work of the tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-5). The Spirit also came upon prophets, judges, and kings such as Saul and David (1 Samuel 10:10; 16:13).
These examples show that God certainly worked through His Spirit before Pentecost, but they do not prove that all people had the Holy Spirit dwelling in them in the same New Covenant sense that Jesus later promised to His followers.
So I am still looking for a clear biblical definition of the Law you are referring to. Is it the Ten Commandments, the commandments given through Moses, God's moral will in general, conscience, or the indwelling Holy Spirit? These are related subjects, but Scripture does not treat them as identical.