Handelingen 15:21

21 Want Mozes heeft er van oude tijden in elke stad, die hem prediken, en hij wordt op elken sabbat in de synagogen gelezen.

Handelingen 15:21 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 15:21

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him,
&c.] That is, for many years past, even from the times of Ezra, the law of Moses has been publicly expounded by them, whom the Jews call Derashim, preachers, or expounders, in every city where there was a synagogue; and every city belonging to the Jews, were obliged to build a synagogue, yea, they were obliged to do it where there were but ten Israelites ^F14: this is given by James as a reason why the Gentiles should be wrote unto concerning the above things; because that they hearing the law read and expounded every week, would be ready to conclude that they were obliged to submit unto it, as to circumcision, and other things; unless they were told that they were free from it; only in order to maintain peace with their brethren the Jews, it would be necessary for them to abstain from the above things: and it may also carry in it a reason, why the Jews need not be wrote unto, and why they had no reason to complain for thus writing to the Gentiles; since they had the law read and explained to them every week, and there would be no attempt to make any alteration in that form of service:

being read in the synagogues every sabbath day;
(See Gill on Acts 13:15).

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 Maimon. Tephilla, c. 11. sect. 1.

Handelingen 15:21 In-Context

19 Daarom oordeel ik, dat men degenen, die uit de heidenen zich tot God bekeren, niet beroere;

20 Maar hun zal aanschrijven, dat zij zich onthouden van de dingen, die door de afgoden besmet zijn, en van hoererij, en van het verstikte, en van bloed.

21 Want Mozes heeft er van oude tijden in elke stad, die hem prediken, en hij wordt op elken sabbat in de synagogen gelezen.

22 Toen heeft het den apostelen en den ouderlingen, met de gehele Gemeente, goed gedacht, enige mannen uit zich te verkiezen, en met Paulus en Barnabas te zenden naar Antiochie: namelijk Judas, die toegenaamd wordt Barsabas, en Silas, mannen, die voorgangers waren onder de broeders.

23 En zij schreven door hen dit navolgende: De apostelen, en de ouderlingen, en de broeders wensen den broederen uit de heidenen, die in Antiochie, en Syrie, en Cilicie zijn, zaligheid.