The Lifting of the Veil breaks fresh, new ground for Acts 15:2021. The Church, interpreting the four rules as table fellowship, completely misses God's point. Understood from The Hebraic Perspective the four rules are the theological pillars that establish Mosaic Law for every Christian. John Abernathy of Texas, Usa, wrote: A ground breaking, incredibly valuable work! Essential for a clear understanding of Scripture!. . .I believe Avram has done a fabulous job of research, with detailed and well documented arguments. He has to work hard to build his case. I think that he does so in a compelling manner. What makes his job hard is the incredible lack of insight shown by commentaries and commentators, who seem blinded. . .by their own preconceptions. Many thanks to Avram for his effort! Timothy Beukman of Cape Town, South Africa said, I have read many views on Acts 15 and never have I read what you wrote in your book. I commend your diligent research and understanding of the passage. It far supersedes many messianic teachers and pastors alike. Your layout and interaction with the material is great. This was a great book! Thank you so much! Donna Klindt of Cody, Wyoming, Usa wrote, Art Katz said, 'What we read should be an event in our lives if it bears the words of life from our living God.' Your book is an event in my life! It has been consuming, confirming and challenging, all at the same time! Thank you, precious brother, thank you, and not just you, but our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah The Lifting of the Veil ACTS 15:20-21 By Avram Yehoshua Trafford Publishing Copyright © 2015 Avram Yehoshua All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4907-6255-5 Contents INTRODUCTION, 1, THE FOUR RULES OF ACTS 15:20, 9, THE FIRST RULE: SACRIFICIAL MEAT, 18, THE SECOND RULE: CULT PROSTITUTION, 22, JUDAH AND TAMAR, 37, ISRAEL AND BAAL PEOR, 39, CULT PROSTITUTION IN ANCIENT ISRAEL, 47, CULT PROSTITUTION IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, 56, THE GREEK PERSPECTIVE ON THE SECOND RULE, 67, SCHOLARSHIP AND THE SECOND RULE, 81, JESUS AND DIVORCE, 87, CULT PROSTITUTION IN THE CORINTHIAN ASSEMBLY, 99, CULT PROSTITUTION IN REVELATION, 127, CULT PROSTITUTION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, 133, THE THIRD RULE: THINGS STRANGLED, 141, THE FOURTH RULE: BLOOD, 147, ACTS 15: SOME CONCERNS, 155, YAKOV'S CONCERN, 218, IS ACTS RELIABLE?, 249, REALITY RAMIFICATIONS, 257, APPENDIX, 268, BIBLIOGRAPHY, 287, Contact Information, 293, CHAPTER 1 THE FOUR RULES OF ACTS 15:20 The Church correctly understands Acts 15 to be a place where God declared that the Gentile didn't have to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses, but they don't realize that it only pertained to salvation. Theologians then point to the four rules of v. 20 and erroneously say that these are the only rules for the Gentile (other than loving God and neighbor). Church interpretation explains the four rules as 'an expression of Christian charity' toward 'the weaker brother' (the Jewish believer). The Jewish believer hadn't yet realized that he had been set free from the Law, but could all the Jewish Apostles have been blind to this? Didn't Jesus speak of the Law's demise in His 40 days with the Apostles after the resurrection, when He specifically taught them about His Kingdom (Acts 1:1-3)? Interestingly enough, scholars recognize that all the Jewish believers, including Peter and Paul, continued to 'live by the Jewish law.' Were all the Jewish believers wrong? According to the Church they were, and so, as not to offend Jewish sensibilities, the Gentiles were asked to walk in these four rules. This way, theologians say, there could be 'a basis for fellowship' with the Jews, since the Jews were 'in every city' (15:21). F. F. Bruce, thinking that three of the four rules fall under the category of dietary regulations (all but rule two), explains that the rules centered around table fellowship between Jew and Gentile. In other words, they were given by James so that the Gentile believer would be able to eat and fellowship with the Jewish believer (who still kept the dietary laws; Lev. 11, etc.). The four rules of Acts 15:20 direct the Gentile to abstain from, • 'the pollution of idols and of • sexual immorality and of • things strangled and of • blood.' Scholarship is unanimous that the first rule, 'pollution of idols,' deals with eating meat sacrificed to an idol. Also, the leftover meat from the sacrifice would be sold at the marketplace. 'Things strangled' is interpreted to mean the Gentile shouldn't eat meat from a strangled animal — it should be properly slaughtered with the blood drained. The fourth rule, 'blood,' was said to refer to blood which might be found in meat that wasn't properly drained or adequately cooked (the Law prohibits the eating of blood; Lev. 3:17). The Church, interpreting these rules, says that out of consideration for Jewish sensibilities the Gentile believers wouldn't break them. The second rule, 'sexual immorality,