What Does 'ACTS 19:26' Mean? ... Printed on 'Buddha Bread' Packaging, Controversy Over Buddhist Insult

Acts 19:26 on 'Prohibition of Idol Worship'
Shop Owner Apologizes, "No Intention to Insult Buddha"

The 'Buddha Bread,' shaped after the main Buddha statue of Seokguram Grotto, National Treasure No. 24, which became a hot topic, sparked controversy for including a Bible verse prohibiting idolatry on its packaging bag, leading to accusations of 'insulting Buddhism.' The seller issued an apology and stated they would delete the controversial verse, which was included unintentionally.

Bible verse written at the bottom of the Buddha bread packaging bag
[Photo by Buddha bread seller Instagram capture]

On the 17th, multiple online communities posted that the phrase 'ACTS 19:26' written on the shopping bag of Buddha Bread sold in Noseo-dong, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, appeared to have the intent to insult Buddhism. A poster, Mr. A, pointed out, "I searched for 'ACTS 19:26' written on the Buddha Bread packaging and was surprised to find it was a Bible verse," adding, "I am suspicious about what intention the person who made this bread had by subtly including a Bible verse on the packaging."

'ACTS 19:26' refers to Acts 19:26 in the Bible, which contains the content, "Those made by human hands are not gods, so you also saw and heard this." This implies a prohibition against worshipping idols other than God.

Online, there were criticisms that including a Bible verse prohibiting idolatry on bread shaped like Buddha itself was an insult to Buddhism. Netizens reacted with comments such as, "It's too sinister to include a Bible verse while selling Buddha Bread," "Putting that on the shopping bag is like challenging Buddhism, isn't it?", "Christianity gets criticized because of people like this," and "Would they stay quiet if bread was made in Jesus' face?"

As the controversy spread, the Buddha Bread seller, Mr. B, posted a statement on social media (SNS) on the 17th.

Mr. B explained, "I am non-religious," and said, "Buddhists said they couldn't eat it because it was Buddhist, and Christians said they couldn't eat it because it was Christian, so I happened to include the Bible verse 'Man-made things are not gods' as a point." He added, "The verse was included to mean 'Buddha Bread is just bread, not a god,' and there is no hidden secret."

He also apologized, saying, "I intended to convey that this bread is just shaped after the main Buddha statue of Seokguram and had no intention to insult Buddha, but my thinking was short-sighted," and "I overlooked that it could be interpreted in various religious ways and tried to deliver the message too easily." Furthermore, he added, "I will delete the verse and continue selling." Following the controversy, the Instagram account promoting Buddha Bread has been set to private.

Meanwhile, Buddha Bread is bread shaped after the main Buddha statue of Seokguram Grotto, a World Cultural Heritage site and National Treasure No. 24, and has been sold at a store in Gyeongju since last summer. The bread gained popularity as a travel souvenir in Gyeongju through word of mouth on social media, with tourists taking 인증샷 (proof shots) holding the bread in front of their faces.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.