Acts 15:21

21 For Moses of old time has in every city those that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Acts 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).


FOOTNOTES:

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

Acts 15:21 In-Context

19 Therefore my sentence is that those from among the Gentiles who are converted to God not be troubled,
20 but that we write unto them that they abstain from pollutions of idols and from fornication and from things strangled and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time has in every city those that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones}, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, principal men among the brethren;
23 and they wrote letters by them after this manner: The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia;
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010