Blood Transfusions
The verses they cite — read them in context.
Genesis 9:4
"You shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood."
Leviticus 17:14
"You shall not eat the blood of any creature."
Acts 15:28-29
"Abstain from... blood... and from what has been strangled."
Reading Acts 15 in context, is the concern about eating blood in a pagan-idol setting — or about modern medicine?
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Blood Transfusions
Does "abstain from blood" forbid a life-saving medical transfusion?
The command to "abstain from blood" (Acts 15:29) addressed eating blood — a dietary and idol-related concern in the early church — not modern medical transfusion, which did not exist. Jesus consistently taught that mercy and the saving of life take priority over ritual rules (Mark 2:27; Matthew 12:11-12). Scripture does not forbid a life-saving transfusion.
Verses Jehovah’s Witnesses cite
- Genesis 9:4: "You shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood."
- Leviticus 17:14: "You shall not eat the blood of any creature."
- Acts 15:28-29: "Abstain from... blood... and from what has been strangled."
Biblical response verses
- Mark 2:27: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."
- Matthew 12:11-12: Jesus affirms doing good and saving life even on the Sabbath.
- Hosea 6:6: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice."
- Luke 10:33-34: The Good Samaritan pours out care to save a life.
Question to ask
Reading Acts 15 in context, is the concern about eating blood in a pagan-idol setting — or about modern medicine?
If God "desires mercy" and Jesus prioritized saving life over ritual rules, would He require refusing a treatment that saves a life?