Acts 15:21

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Embankment

Senior Member
#1
Feb 28, 2017
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#1
Acts 15:21 says, "For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues"
What are your thoughts on this passage in connection with the rest of Acts15? In some transactions it seems to hint that Moses is speaking of Jesus. Therefore reinforcing the argument for not subjecting gentiles to undue laws. Other transactions don’t seem to word it clearly at all. I would love to hear others insight! Blessings!
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#2
Jul 3, 2015
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#2
Moses wrote the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)... so he is the one being read every Sabbath.
 
C

Chaps

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#3
Apr 3, 2024
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#3
I agree. I think it is saying that the Law of Moses was readily available to the Gentiles and was preached everywhere that they might know what wicked behavior looks like. So, the only emphasis they needed to make with these new converts was to abstain from the evil sexual and idolatrous practices that were commonplace among many of them in their previous practices of divine worship.
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#5
Jul 18, 2017
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#5
Embankment said:
Acts 15:21 says, "For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues"
Click to expand...
You must go to verse10 to see why this was said Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

What is Peter saying? None of the Jews were able to keep the Law of Moses, so to apply it to Gentile believers would mean putting a yoke on them. The verse you quoted mentions that the Torah (five books of Moses) is read in the synagogues every Sabbath day but it does not produce any spiritual results. Those Jews have refused to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are therefore spiritually blind even though they read the Torah.

And really only one law of Moses is binding on Gentiles -- the worship of idols from the Ten Commandments. The other laws were either given through Noah (consumption of blood including things strangled) or through the teachings of the apostles (abstaining from fornication).
 
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armchairscholar

New member
#6
Aug 22, 2024
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#6
Embankment said:
Acts 15:21 says, "For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues"
What are your thoughts on this passage in connection with the rest of Acts15? In some transactions it seems to hint that Moses is speaking of Jesus. Therefore reinforcing the argument for not subjecting gentiles to undue laws. Other translations don’t seem to word it clearly at all. I would love to hear others insight! Blessings!
Click to expand...
What a fascinating passage! In Acts 15, we see the early Christian leaders grappling with the question of whether Gentile believers should be required to follow Jewish laws and traditions. And in verse 21, we get a glimpse into the significance of Moses' teachings in the synagogues.

I'm struck by the way this passage highlights the connection between Moses' words and Jesus' message. It's as if the apostles are saying, "Look, Moses has been proclaiming God's truth in every city for generations, and now we see that truth fulfilled in Jesus." This reinforces the idea that Jesus is the culmination of God's plan, and that His teachings supersede the old laws.

But what's also interesting is how this passage speaks to the psychological aspect of faith. The fact that Moses' teachings are read every Sabbath in the synagogues suggests a sense of continuity and tradition. It's a reminder that our faith is rooted in a rich history, and that we stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us.

At the same time, the apostles' decision not to subject Gentiles to undue laws speaks to the importance of grace and freedom in our faith. It's a recognition that our relationship with God is not based on our ability to follow rules, but on our trust in Jesus' finished work.
 
Mem

Mem

Senior Member
#7
Sep 23, 2014
7,227
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#7
Embankment said:
Acts 15:21 says, "For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues"
What are your thoughts on this passage in connection with the rest of Acts15? In some transactions it seems to hint that Moses is speaking of Jesus. Therefore reinforcing the argument for not subjecting gentiles to undue laws. Other transactions don’t seem to word it clearly at all. I would love to hear others insight! Blessings!
Click to expand...
This is spoken after arguments broke out over the need for circumcision in order to obtain salvation.
Acts 15
1Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
and
5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
so, v. 21 is addressing the problematic difficulty in uprooting such as an extensive system and deeply ingrained tradition as the teachings of Moses and expressing its role in the frustration of the gospel.

However,
Hebrews 3:4 puts Moses into the right perspective...
For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.

...relative to The Supremacy of the Son
Hebrew 1:
1On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. 2But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son,a whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.b

*I've made a note to look further into any correlating significance of the dietary laws, 'abstaining from food dedicated to idols, strangled meat, and blood, with sexual immorality," and will return with conclusion if I come to anything that might be of interest.
 
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