Acts 15 records the apostles and elders meeting in Jerusalem to resolve a crucial issue: Did Gentile converts need to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses to be saved? Peter, Paul, and Barnabas all argued against binding the Law. James agreed and said, “Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols [i.e., meats offered to idols, v. 29], and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:19–20). James then made a statement that may be difficult to understand at first glance: “For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day” (Acts 15:21).
What Did James Mean in Acts 15:21?
James was not reinstating the Law of Moses. Rather, he was explaining why Gentile Christians should avoid certain practices that would be especially offensive to Jews and hinder their salvation. He was not contradicting the conclusion of the council. The Law of Moses had been nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:14–15; Romans 7:4), giving way to the “Law of Christ,” “the perfect Law of Liberty,” “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 6:2; James 1:25; Romans 8:2; cf. Hebrews 9:15-17; 10:8–9).
James was acknowledging Jewish sensitivities. Even though the Law of Moses was no longer binding, it was still being read in synagogues every Sabbath. Jews everywhere were still being raised to regard things like eating meat from strangled animals as deeply offensive. Even Jews who had become Christians often had conscientious objections to eating “unclean foods” or meat offered to idols (Acts 10:9-16; Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8).
James was encouraging Gentiles to show respect. James urged Gentile Christians to abstain from these practices—not because they were all inherently sinful (fornication clearly was), but because they could create unnecessary offense or division, hindering souls from being saved.
Why Include Fornication?
Fornication (sex outside of a lawful marriage) was always sinful, but James included it here because it was especially prevalent and accepted in many Gentile cultures. It was often tied to idolatrous temple rituals, where sexual acts were part of pagan worship. Many Gentiles may not have fully grasped the sinful nature of fornication, especially if they came from backgrounds where it was normalized. Including it in the list emphasized the moral purity demanded by the Gospel, and the need for a complete break from both idolatry and the immorality often tied to it.
Connection to 1 Corinthians 8–10
Regarding the concept of refraining from personal liberties that could cause problems for others (such as eating meat offered to idols), Paul later taught the same principle James applied:
- 1 Corinthians 8: Avoid causing others to stumble over matters of conscience, such as eating meat offered to idols.
- 1 Corinthians 9: Paul became “all things to all men” and gave up personal liberties so he could reach both Jews and Gentiles with the Gospel.
- 1 Corinthians 10: Paul urged Christians to avoid giving offense to Jews, Gentiles, or the church of God—for the sake of saving souls.
Like James, Paul emphasized that Christians should sometimes limit their liberty voluntarily to avoid divisions and hindrances to evangelism.
Conclusion
Both Jewish and Gentile Christians were free from the Law of Moses (Acts 15:9–11; Galatians 3:24–29), yet their conduct still needed to reflect love and wisdom in how it affected others. Acts 15:21 does not authorize binding the Law of Moses—it simply recognizes that Jewish influence remained strong in the first century A.D., and Gentiles were encouraged to avoid creating unnecessary offenses. The council’s decision—guided by the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28)—emphasized the importance of putting souls above self, a principle repeated throughout the New Testament and still greatly needed today (Philippians 2:3–5; 1 John 2:10).