Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles, Vol. 2: Designed for Bible-Classes and Sunday School (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles, Vol. 2: Designed for Bible-Classes and Sunday School

The eating of blood was strictly forbidden to the Jews. The reason of this was that it contained the life. Lev. Xvii. 11. 14. See Note on Rom. Iii. 25. The use of blood, was common among the Gentiles. They drank it often at their sacrifices, and in making covenants or compacts. To separate the Jews from them in this respect was one design of the prohibition. See Spencer, De Leg. Hebrea. Pp. 144, 145. 169. 235. 377. 381. 594. Ed. 1732. See also this whole passage examined at length in Spencer. Pp. 588 - 626. The primary reason of the prohibition was, that it was thus used in the feasts and compacts of idolaters. That blood was thus drank by the heathens, particularly by the Sabians, in their sacrifices, is fully proved by Spencer, De Leg. Pp. 377 - 380. But the prohibition specifies a higher rea son, that the life is in the blood, and that therefore it should not be eaten. On this opinion see Note, Rom. Iii. 25. This rea son existed before any ceremonial law; is founded in the nature of things; has no particular reference to any custom of the Jews; and therefore is as forcible in any Other circumstances as in theirs. It was proper, therefore, to forbid it to the early Christian conyerts; and for the same reason its use should be abstained from every where. It adds to the force of these remarks, when we remember that the same principle was settled -be fore the laws of Moses were given and that God regarded the fact that the life was in the blood as of so much importance as to make the shedding of it worthy of death. Gen. Ix. 4 - 6. It is supposed, therefore, that this law is still obligatory. Perhaps also there is no food more nu wholesome than blood and it is a further circumstance of some moment that all men naturally revolt from it as an article of food.

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