What Acts 15:19-20 Means (The Jerusalem Council's Laws for Gentiles)

This post addresses Acts 15 and the laws that were given to new believers by the Jerusalem Council. I have heard so many people use this passage to say the commandments have been done away with, or that we don't need to bother with the rest of Scripture's instructions as long as we stick to these four things:

"Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the nations who are turning to YHWH, but that we should write to them to abstain from the defilements of idols, and from whoring, and from what is strangled, and from blood." -Acts 15:19-20

So that's all we have to do, right? Just focus on those four things, and don't worry about anything else. The rest of Scripture is really too much trouble, so let's just ignore it. I used to think this verse was giving permission for believers to ignore the Sabbath and set apart times, and eat unclean animals, and things like that. I thought I could do whatever I wanted as long as I wasn't being sexually immoral or didn't eat something that was sacrificed to an idol. I figured as long as I was sticking to that list that was enough. But then I finally read the next verse.

"For from ancient times Moses is read in congregation every Sabbath." -Acts 15:21

Does this verse seem to be a little out of place? What does Scripture reading each week have to do with verses 19 and 20? They are telling others to abstain from idols, whoring, strangled animals, and consuming blood...because on the Sabbath the Bible is read?

And - wait a minute - doesn't the part of the Scripture that's being read give us a lot of other commandments? Including the very commandments that many people believe are no longer valid because of the previous verses?

This is because those four instructions are a starting point, not a list totaling Scripture's instructions for believers. The disciples assumed that anyone coming to the faith would go to congregation each Sabbath and learn more! What are the writings of Moses? The Torah, which includes the bulk of instructions for believers. So by going and listening, these people would slowly learn the word of YHWH and all of Scripture's commandments. So they weren't saying, "this is all there is," but they did say, "here's your starting point - you'll learn the rest as you go."

Seriously, if the disciples thought that the commandments were done away with or not applicable to gentiles, why on earth would they send new believers to learn about them each week? Why would they take the time to teach Scripture's instructions if only those four things were important? That literally makes no sense! That would be like taking a job and your employer training you every single week in the way they used to do business and their old policies. Talk about confusing and a waste of time.

The disciples were giving some basic starting points for people new to the faith. When you're teaching something, you always start with the basics. If you're learning math, you need to start with numbers, counting, and addition before understanding calculus. Focusing on the basics doesn't negate the rest of mathematics. Starting with addition doesn't mean that multiplication or trigonometry aren't valid or valuable. You start with the basics and then continue learning as you go to school.

Scripture is extensive, and there's no way to grasp it all at once. In the book of Acts people from all nations and backgrounds are turning to the faith. Many of these people would have been completely unfamiliar with Scripture. Others were entrenched in idol worship and pagan traditions. The need in verses 19 and 20 to clarify that sexual immorality and idol worship are not okay shows us that many new believers were participating in these things, and even found them acceptable. These practices are wrong, and cause much damage to believers. So Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and other leaders were making a game plan to handle this. They selected a few starting points, and then figured believers would learn more of Scripture's instructions each week when they heard the writings of Moses read. Of course by even bringing up that Scripture is read on the Sabbath day they were showing that they expected new followers to be keeping the Sabbath day.

When we understand this passage to be a starting point when people come into the faith, it fits with the rest of Scripture. We can see that these instructions do not negate the rest of the commandments. In fact the leaders are actually advocating for Sabbath keeping in this very passage! This is not a write-off of the word of YHWH, but rather a place to start when we enter into the faith. We should be encouraged here to consistently study Scripture's instructions so that we can continue to grow in our faith and understanding of how we are to live.

Related posts:
What Does 'No Greater Burdens' in Acts 15 Mean?
On Peter's Vision
The Book of Hebrews
Galatians

Biblically Clean Eating Q+A

Recently on Instagram I asked if anyone had questions about Biblically clean eating. I was taken aback by the huge response! It was literally hundreds of questions in a few days. I did my best to answer as many as I could. I figured I would share my responses here for those who didn't get to see this.

For clarification, this is how I define Biblically clean eating.

What about Acts 10:9-16? People use this to say all food is clean.

This chapter later explains the "kill and eat" vision Peter had to mean that no people are unclean. It's not talking about food at all. See the full post A Hebraic Perspective on Peter's Vision for more.

The dairy and meat separation. It's very confusing to me.

The basis for separating these come from Exodus 23:19 which says not to boil an animal in its mother's milk. There are a huge range of interpretations on this. Many scholars believe this is about mixing meat with that animal's specific mother's milk (as opposed to mixing goat meat with the milk of any other goat), which apparently was a pagan practice in Bible times.

Since chicken, etc. are not dairy animals there is no express Biblical prohibition from mixing that with cheese, butter, etc.

Study and pray about this. Base your decisions off of Scripture and not what someone else says.

Great reminder that we do see milk served with meat in Scripture. Abraham served meat with milk and curds. Many would say that the instructions on how to eat weren't given until later, so therefore Abraham didn't know not to do this. However we see in Genesis 7 that Noah knew the difference between and unclean animals before then.

This Is duck clean or no?

Duck is considered clean. As are chicken, turkey, quail, pheasant, partridge, goose, and dove.

How do you even begin? Especially when your husband refuses?

If your spouse isn't on board then do what YOU can. If you are cooking, make clean meals and if he wants to add something unclean that's his choice.

See this post for step-by-step help getting started.

Cheering you on during the hard time of transition! It gets way easier as you go!

Is meat at stores like Walmart unclean because of slaughter methods?

Leviticus 17:13 tells us not to eat meat hat has blood in it. This can be an issue with red meat - conventional slaughterhouses do not always make it a point to drain the blood, or might not kill the animal in a way that is conducive to that.

People handle this differently - some cook the meat thoroughly, others salt meat to draw out the blood, others buy only meat where they know how it was slaughtered, and some only feel comfortable with certified kosher meat.

I find it difficult to find kosher certified meat, any suggestions?

Talk to small scale butchers near you and find out their slaughtering practices. Many are consistent with kosher methods, but without the certification.

Call the nearest synagogue and ask if/where their congregants get kosher certified meat.

Small grocery stores can usually special order kosher meat. It helps if you place a fairly large order to make it worth their trouble.

Take a cooler and stock up when you go to a large city. You can freeze meat at home to use in the coming months. Kroger and Trader Joes' are usually good bets. Call ahead to double check that they carry it!

Kosher certified meat is rarely pastured/grass fed/local/organic, what do we ask our local farmers?

Most farmers don't do their own slaughtering. Ask if they know what that consists of. If they don't, find out where their animals are processed and contact them.

I would ask what steps they take to drain the blood, and go from there. 

There is really not much in Scripture about how an animal should be killed. Some believe that a cow's throat should be slit and drained that way. The more common method today is to first stun-gun cows in the head before slitting their throats to drain the blood. Many feel this is more humane for the animal.

What's your thoughts on eating a vegan/plant based diet?

I think that can be a great thing. In Daniel we see that he switched to a plant based diet in order to avoid unclean meats. If your choice is to eat a vegan meal or unclean meat, then that's an easy decision to make to keep the Bible's commandments. In general though when you have the option to eat clean meats and dairy, I would just remind everyone that this a personal choice and not a Biblical commandment.

Romans 14.

This passage is mostly talking about fasting. Some people feel called to fast certain days, while others did not. Both sides should treat the other with kindness.

Are mushrooms clean?

Most people say yes because Scripture does not mention anything about them being unclean. Judaism accepts edible mushrooms as kosher. 

Others would say no since they are not a plant that produces seeds (see Genesis 1:29). Seaweed also doesn't produce seeds, so that's something to watch out for if you land on this side.

What are things to avoid that might get missed?

Checking produce for bugs is always a good idea. You don't need to spend forever on it, but it's something to watch out for as you're chopping. If you find bugs you can take them off and still use the veggie or fruit.

What are things to avoid that might get missed?

Some beef or turkey products will have pork casings. Double check the ingredient label when you're buying any type of sausage product.

What are things to avoid that might get missed?

Gelatin is usually made from pork. It shows up in gelatin desserts like jello, marshmallows, pudding mixes, and lesser quality yogurt and sour cream.

You can get beef gelatin, if you are so inclined, to use in any recipes calling for it!

What kind of fish are okay to eat?

Fish need to have fins and scales. Common fish that are Biblically clean include salmon, tuna, cod, trout, perch, sea bass, herring, pollock, tilapia, mahi-mahi, and flounder. 

Cookbook recommendations?

Pretty Simple Cooking from A Couple Cooks is a gem! It's vegetarian but they include some recommendations for incorporating meat if you'd like to. The book is also arranged by the amount of time each recipe takes, which I love! It has practical recipes for real Biblically clean meals!

What's your interpretation of the verse in Mark 7 where it says he made all foods clean?

Mark 7 isn't talking about what is being eaten, it's talking about eating without going through a (non Bible based) ritual of handwashing. That's why they asked, "Why do your followers eat with unwashed hands?" and not, "Why are your followers eating unclean things?"

Also, the Bible never calls unclean animals "food." It only calls Biblically clean things food, so it's kind of a moot point. See this post for more on Mark 7.

What are thoughts on eating out, specifically at a restaurant that serves unclean and clean food?

I feel most comfortable at restaurants that don't serve unclean meat, or at least very little of it. That said, quality restaurants (especially those accommodating to vegetarians and those with food allergies), have no problem avoiding cross contamination if asked. Restaurants like these typically have a vegetarian deep fryer and spot on the grill. If you are having meat you can request they clean the grill.

A reader mentioned watching out for restaurants that cook with lard. This is mostly a problem at southern type and Mexican restaurants, so that's something you can ask about. Again, for places that are vegetarian-friendly, this usually isn't an issue.

And if a restaurant can't tell you the ingredients they use - I would really think twice about eating there. I've worked in restaurants and there is absolutely no mystery to anyone in the kitchen about what is being used. Unless it's a heat and serve place, which tend to be nasty anyway. If a waiter or waitress can't answer your questions they can always go and check with the kitchen.

I applaud all of you making the choice to implement a Biblically clean diet into your life! There are many things that can be debated, but wherever you land on these things I'm proud of the changes you are making! YHWH is honored by your effort to be obedient to Scripture!

More about clean eating:

10 Times the Bible Talks About Clean Eating
How to Eat Biblically Clean
Biblically Clean Meal Ideas

Biblical Holiday Dates 2021 + Printable

These are the dates when the Hebrew holidays land in 2021! As usual, here is a free printable for you to stick in your planner, on your fridge, on your desk, or wherever else so that you can be sure to free up these days to celebrate the set apart times of our Creator. All of these holidays are significant, and honoring them will cause your faith to grow tremendously! Some of these days are called Sabbaths in Scripture, which means we are not to do any work on those days and otherwise treat them as the weekly Sabbath. I've made note of those days so that you can plan accordingly.

Once again I'm giving you two different sets of dates. There are many calendars out there that believers observe, and my goal is not to convince you of which one to pick. I share these two because they are the most common amongst people I know. I would encourage you to pick a calendar and go with it. If you have a congregation, going with their dates gives you a chance to celebrate with community, which I am all for. As always, pray about how you should live and be willing to make changes and adjustments as your faith grows and you learn more.

Traditional calendar:

The traditional calendar has days going from sundown to sundown. Holidays start at sundown on the day listed. For example, Passover starts at sundown on March 27 and ends at sundown the next day, on March 28. The traditional calendar also gives an extra day for Shavuot and Yom Teruah, though Scripture treats both as one-day holidays.

Passover - March 27-28
Feast of Unleavened Bread - March 28 - April 4
First Fruits - March 28-29
Shavuot - May 16-18
Yom Teruah - September 6-8
Yom Kippur - September 15-16
Sukkot - September 20-27

No work days:

First day of Unleavened Bread - March 28-29
Last day of Unleavened Bread - April 3-4
Shavuot - May 16-18
Yom Teruah - September 6-8
Yom Kippur - September 15-16
First day of Sukkot - September 20-21
Last day of Sukkot - September 26-27

Not familiar with a no work day? They are treated as the weekly Sabbath. More on that here!

Torah to the Tribes' calendar:

This calendar uses daylight to daylight dates. This means Passover starts at daybreak on April 3 and ends at daybreak April 4, which is the start of Unleavened Bread.

Passover - April 3
Feast of Matzah - April 4 - 10
First Fruits - April 4
Shavuot - May 23
Yom Teruah - September 17
Yom Kippur - September 26
Sukkot - October 1-8

No work days:
First day of Matzah Week - April 4
Last day of Matzah Week - April 10
Shavuot - May 23
Yom Teruah - September 17
Yom Kippur - September 26
First day of Sukkot - October 1
Last day of Sukkot - October 8

Whatever calendar you go by, now is the time to plan your schedule and put in for time off from work so that you can enjoy these set apart times.

Related posts:
The Beginner's Guide to the Biblical Holidays
Why I Started Celebrating the Biblical Feasts
What is No-Work Day?

Here's When the Biblical Holidays Happen in 2021

The Biblical holidays are significant times for believers. The Creator set these times apart and throughout history he has used these feasts and holidays in big ways, from the Messiah being killed at Passover to the Holy Spirit being given at Shavuot, and we should expect him to continue that trend. Let's pay attention to when these special times are and take part in them like Scripture says we should!

Leviticus 23 tells us when these happen, but since the Gregorian calendar doesn't match up with the Creator's calendar the dates land a little bit differently each year. There are also a few different ways to calculate the start of the year and because of that there are several different calendars that believers go by. What I'm sharing here is the one that is mostly commonly used. Mark your calendars for these set apart times!

When do the Biblical holidays happen in 2021?

Passover - March 27-28
Feast of Unleavened Bread - March 28 - April 4
First Fruits - March 28-29
Shavuot - May 16-18
Feast of Trumpets - September 6-8
Yom Kippur - September 15-16
Feast of Tabernacles - September 20-27

A couple of things about this. According to this calendar, days start in the evening at sundown. This means that Passover starts on the evening of March 27 and goes through the evening of the 28th. This calendar also gives an extra day to both the Feast of Trumpets and Shavuot, even though in the Bible they are both just one day events.

It's also important to note that while all of these are special times, some of these are also considered Sabbath days which means we shouldn't work on them. These Sabbath days are the first and last days of Unleavened Bread, Shavuot, the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and the first and last days of Tabernacles.

More on the Biblical holidays:
Reasons Why Believers Should Keep the Biblical Holidays
The Beginner's Guide to the Biblical Holidays
Biblical Holidays 2021 Dates Printable