²⁰ but should write to them ^(A)to abstain from ^(B)the things polluted by idols, and from ^(C)sexual immorality, and from ^(D)what has been strangled, and from ^(E)blood.

²⁰ But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman ^(A)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants ^(B)to practice sexual immorality and ^(C)to eat food sacrificed to idols.

^29 (A)that you abstain from ^(B)what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

¹⁴ But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of ^(A)Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might ^(B)eat food sacrificed to idols and ^(C)practice sexual immorality.

¹⁷ It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither ^(A)fat nor ^(B)blood.”

⁴ But you shall not eat flesh with its ^(A)life, that is, its blood.

²⁵ But as for the Gentiles who have believed, ^(A)we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled,^[a] and from sexual immorality.”

⁴ Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ^(A)“an idol has no real existence,” and that ^(B)“there is no God but one.” ⁵ For although there may be ^(C)so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— ⁶ yet ^(D)for us there is one God, the Father, ^(E)from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and ^(F)one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and ^(G)through whom we exist.

⁷ However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, ^(H)through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and ^(I)their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ^8 (J)Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. ⁹ But take care ^(K)that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block ^(L)to the weak. ¹⁰ For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating^[a] in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged,^[b] if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? ¹¹ And so by your knowledge this weak person is ^(M)destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. ¹² Thus, sinning against your brothers^[c] and ^(N)wounding their conscience when it is weak, ^(O)you sin against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, ^(P)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Laws Against Eating Blood

¹⁰ “If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them ^(A)eats any blood, I will ^(B)set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. ^11 (C)For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar ^(D)to make atonement for your souls, ^(E)for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. ¹² Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.

¹³ “Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall ^(F)pour out its blood and ^(G)cover it with earth. ¹⁴ For the life of every creature^[a] is its ^(H)blood: its blood is its life.^[b] Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.