Acts 15:21
New International Version
For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

New Living Translation
For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”

English Standard Version
For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

Berean Standard Bible
For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

Berean Literal Bible
For Moses has ones proclaiming him in every city from generations of old, being read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."

King James Bible
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

New King James Version
For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

New American Standard Bible
For from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

NASB 1995
“For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

NASB 1977
“For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Legacy Standard Bible
For from ancient generations, Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Amplified Bible
For from ancient generations [the writing of] Moses has been preached in every city, since he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Christian Standard Bible
For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”

American Standard Version
For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

Contemporary English Version
We must remember that the Law of Moses has been preached in city after city for many years, and every Sabbath it is read in our synagogues.

English Revised Version
For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After all, Moses' words have been spread to every city for generations. His teachings are read in synagogues on every day of worship."

Good News Translation
For the Law of Moses has been read for a very long time in the synagogues every Sabbath, and his words are preached in every town."

International Standard Version
After all, Moses has had people to proclaim him in every city for generations, and on every Sabbath his books are read aloud in the synagogues."

Majority Standard Bible
For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

NET Bible
For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath."

New Heart English Bible
For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who proclaim him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."

Webster's Bible Translation
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

Weymouth New Testament
For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town, being read, as he is, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the various synagogues."

World English Bible
For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for Moses has those preaching him from former generations in every city—being read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

Berean Literal Bible
For Moses has ones proclaiming him in every city from generations of old, being read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."

Young's Literal Translation
for Moses from former generations in every city hath those preaching him -- in the synagogues every sabbath being read.'

Smith's Literal Translation
For Moses of ancient generations has them proclaiming him in every city, being read in the synagogues in every sabbath.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For Moses, from ancient times, has had in each city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read on every Sabbath.”

New American Bible
For Moses, for generations now, has had those who proclaim him in every town, as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.”

New Revised Standard Version
For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For Moses, from the very early centuries, had preachers in the synagogues in every city to read his books on every sabbath day.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For from the first ages there have been preachers for Moses who read him on every Sabbath in every town in the synagogues.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For, from ancient times, Moses has, in every city, those who preach him, being read in the synagogue every sabbath-day.

Godbey New Testament
For Moses from ancient generations, has those preaching him in every city, being read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.

Haweis New Testament
For Moses for ages past in every city hath those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.

Mace New Testament
for as to the law of Moses, that has been published in every city a considerable time, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.

Weymouth New Testament
For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town, being read, as he is, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the various synagogues."

Worrell New Testament
for Moses, from ancient generations, has in every city those preaching him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath."

Worsley New Testament
For Moses hath had from ancient times those that preach him in every city, and is still read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Council at Jerusalem
20Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. 21For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 4:5-8
See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the LORD my God has commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land that you are about to enter and possess. / Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” / For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him? ...

Deuteronomy 31:9-13
So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. / Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of remission of debt, during the Feast of Tabernacles, / when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel. ...

Nehemiah 8:1-8
At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. / On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. / So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. ...

Psalm 78:5-7
For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, / that the coming generation would know them—even children yet to be born—to arise and tell their own children / that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments.

Isaiah 2:3
And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 42:21
The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.

Jeremiah 31:33-34
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. / No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Ezekiel 44:23-24
They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean. / In any dispute, they shall officiate as judges and judge according to My ordinances. They must keep My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed feasts, and they must keep My Sabbaths holy.

Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

Matthew 5:17-19
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. / So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:2-3
“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. / So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Luke 4:16-21
Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, / the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: / “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, ...

John 5:39
You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,

John 7:19
Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?”

Acts 13:15
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

sabbath.

Acts 13:15,27
And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on…

Nehemiah 8:1
And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

Luke 4:16
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

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Ancient City Earliest Early Former Generations Moses Past Preach Preached Preachers Preaching Read Reading Sabbath Synagogues Time Times Various
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Ancient City Earliest Early Former Generations Moses Past Preach Preached Preachers Preaching Read Reading Sabbath Synagogues Time Times Various
Acts 15
1. Great dissensions arise regarding circumcision.
5. The apostles consult about it,
22. and send their determination by letters to the churches.
36. Paul and Barnabas, thinking to visit the brothers together,
39. disagree, and travel different ways.














For Moses
The mention of "Moses" here is significant as it refers to the Mosaic Law, which was central to Jewish life and worship. Moses, as a historical and religious figure, represents the law given by God to the Israelites. The Greek name "Mōusēs" is derived from the Hebrew "Mosheh," which means "drawn out," reflecting his rescue from the Nile. Moses is a pivotal figure in the Old Testament, symbolizing the covenant between God and His people. His teachings and laws were foundational to Jewish identity and practice.

has been proclaimed
The phrase "has been proclaimed" indicates the widespread and continuous teaching of the Mosaic Law. The Greek word used here, "kērussō," means to herald or announce publicly. This proclamation was not a one-time event but a regular, ongoing declaration. It underscores the importance of the Law in Jewish communities, serving as a constant reminder of their covenant with God and their distinct identity as His chosen people.

in every city
The phrase "in every city" highlights the extensive reach of Jewish influence and the dispersion of Jewish communities throughout the Roman Empire. This widespread presence ensured that the teachings of Moses were accessible to Jews and God-fearing Gentiles alike. Historically, Jewish communities established synagogues wherever they settled, making the teachings of Moses a universal aspect of Jewish life, regardless of geographic location.

from ancient times
"From ancient times" emphasizes the long-standing tradition and continuity of the Jewish faith. The Greek phrase "ek archaiōn geneōn" suggests a deep-rooted history, tracing back to the earliest days of the Jewish people. This continuity provided a sense of stability and identity, reinforcing the timeless nature of God's covenant with Israel and the enduring relevance of His laws.

and is read
The act of reading "and is read" signifies the oral tradition and communal aspect of Jewish worship. The Greek word "anaginōskō" means to read aloud, which was a common practice in synagogues. This public reading ensured that the Law was not only preserved but also actively engaged with by the community. It was a means of education, spiritual formation, and communal identity.

in the synagogues
The "synagogues" were central to Jewish religious life, serving as places of worship, teaching, and community gathering. The Greek word "synagōgē" means assembly or gathering, reflecting their role as communal centers. Synagogues were the heart of Jewish life in the diaspora, where the Law was taught, prayers were offered, and the community was strengthened in faith and practice.

on every Sabbath
The "Sabbath" was a sacred day of rest and worship, observed weekly by the Jewish people. The Greek word "sabbaton" is derived from the Hebrew "Shabbat," meaning rest. Observing the Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, a day set apart for spiritual renewal and reflection. The regular reading of the Law on the Sabbath reinforced its importance and allowed the community to align their lives with God's commandments.

(21) For Moses of old time.--Literally, of ancient generations. The conjunction gives the reason for writing to the Gentiles, and giving them these injunctions. The Jews, who heard the Law in their synagogues every Sabbath, did not need instruction. It might be taken for granted that they would adhere to the rules now specified. So, in Acts 15:23, the encyclical letter is addressed exclusively to "the brethren of the Gentiles."

Verse 21. - From generations of old for of old time, A.V.; sabbath for sabbath day, A.V. The meaning of this verse seems to be that, in requiring the above compliances, the council was not enjoining anything new or strange, because the Gentiles who attended the synagogues were familiar with these Mosaic doctrines. It has been often stated that these four prohibitions were in substance the same as the so-called seven precepts of Noah, which were binding upon proselytes of the gate. This is, however, scarcely borne out by the facts. The four prohibitions seem to have been a temporary arrangement adapted to the then condition of the Church, with a view to enabling Christian Jews and Gentiles to live in brotherly fellowship. The Jew was not to require more of his Gentile brother: the Gentile was not to concede less to his Jewish brother. St. Augustine ('Cont. Manich.,' 32, 13), quoted by Meyer, ridicules the idea of Christians in his time being bound by the law of things strangled (see Hooker and Bishop Sanderson, quoted by Wordsworth, in the same sense).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

Moses
Μωϋσῆς (Mōusēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3475: Or Moses, or Mouses of Hebrew origin; Moseus, Moses, or Mouses, the Hebrew lawgiver.

has
ἔχει (echei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

been proclaimed
κηρύσσοντας (kēryssontas)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2784: To proclaim, herald, preach. Of uncertain affinity; to herald, especially divine truth.

in every
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

city
πόλιν (polin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4172: A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.

from
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

ancient
ἀρχαίων (archaiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 744: Original, primitive, ancient. From arche; original or primeval.

times
γενεῶν (geneōn)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 1074: From genos; a generation; by implication, an age.

[and] is read
ἀναγινωσκόμενος (anaginōskomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 314: To read, know again, know certainly, recognize, discern. From ana and ginosko; to know again, i.e. to read.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
ταῖς (tais)
Article - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

synagogues
συναγωγαῖς (synagōgais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4864: From sunago; an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish 'synagogue'; by analogy, a Christian church.

on
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

every
πᾶν (pan)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

Sabbath.”
σάββατον (sabbaton)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4521: The Sabbath, a week.


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NT Apostles: Acts 15:21 For Moses from generations of old has (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 15:20
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