Acts 21:25

As touching the Gentiles which believe The clause should commence with But, which is expressed in the Greek. The elders, while urging on Paul the course they have described in consideration of Jewish prejudices, are yet careful to distinguish from this the liberty of the Gentiles, and to confirm that liberty, and shew to the Apostle that they were of the same mind as when the council was held (Acts 15), they refer now to the decisions then arrived at.

we have written Better (with the Rev. Ver.), we wrote. This is said in reference to the time when the decrees were first published (Acts 15:33). The verb used in that account for "write" (Acts 15:20) is the same which the elders employ here, and it is not the usual one, shewing that an exact reference is made to the proceedings of the former synod.

and concluded Better (with Rev. Ver.), " giving Judgment." This word also refers back to Acts 15:19, where James then said, "My judgment is, &c." And although he is not specially named here as the speaker, there must have been one who at this time also gave utterance to the advice of the whole presbytery, and none was more likely to do so than he.

that they observe no such thing, save only The oldest texts omit all these words, and they appear merely to be a marginal comment, echoing in part, but with a negative, the language of Acts 15:5; Acts 15:24. They do not represent any part of the form given in that chapter of the letter of the synod.

that they keep themselves from things offered to idols … and from strangled, &c. The Rev. Ver.makes both the meaning and the English clearer: "that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols … and from what is strangled, &c." On the prohibitions and the reasons for them see notes on Acts 15:20.