22 April 2015

EJ&T - Acts: The four commandments that seem good to the Holy Ghost

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are 613. See here for a list of those that I've found so far.
According to the book of Acts (21:25), there are four commandments that seem good to the Holy Ghost: Abstain from meats offered to idols, don't fornicate, don't eat strangled things, and abstain from blood. If you stay away from those four, you're good to go (if you're a Gentile believer, anyway).

  1. Be baptized in the name of Jesus.
  2. Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

  3. Obey God rather than men.
  4. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

    Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances ... after the commandments and doctrines of men? Colossians 2:10-22

    Not giving heed to ... commandments of men. Titus 1:14

  5. Kill and eat animals.
  6. Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. Acts 10:9-13

    in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. Acts 11:5-7

  7. Don't call anyone common or unclean.
  8. God hath shewed me [Peter] that I should not call any man common or unclean. Acts 10:28

  9. Abstain from meats offered to idols.
  10. Abstain from pollutions of idols. Acts 15:20

    It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ... that ye abstain from meats offered to idols. Acts 15:29-30

    As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols. Acts 21:25

    But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:1 Corinthians 10:28

  11. Don't fornicate.
  12. Abstain ... from fornication. Acts 15:20

    It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ... that ye abstain ... from fornication. Acts 15:29-30

    As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from ... fornication. Acts 21:25

    Flee fornication. 1 Corinthians 1:18

    Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 1 Corinthians 10:8

    But fornication ... let it not be once named among you. Ephesians 5:3

    Fornication ... For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. Colossians 3:5-6

    For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. 1 Thessalonians 4:2-3

  13. Abstain from strangled things.
  14. Abstain ... from things strangled. Acts 15:20

    It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ... that ye abstain ... from things strangled. Acts 15:29-30

    As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves ... from strangled. Acts 25

  15. Abstain from blood.
  16. Abstain ... from blood. Acts 15:20

    It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ... that ye abstain ... from blood. Acts 15:29-30

    As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves ... from blood. Acts 21:25

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