There are no textual problems connected with this verse, though it is quite difficult to see its real relationship with what has preceded. Perhaps the meaning is that the Jews, who heard the Law of Moses read every Sabbath day in the synagogue, would be offended if the Gentiles did not keep these restrictions. Furthermore, certain of the important regulations observed by Jews were well known to Gentiles, and this may be the basis for the statement by James.

The expression for a very long time must refer not to the actual process of reading the Scriptures in a particular synagogue, but to the many years during which it was the practice of the Jews to read the Law of Moses in the synagogues every Sabbath.

In many languages one cannot say his words are preached. It is possible, however, to say “they preached about what he said” or “they talked to the people about Moses’ words.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .