Acts 20:26 kjv
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Acts 20:26 nkjv
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Acts 20:26 niv
Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.
Acts 20:26 esv
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,
Acts 20:26 nlt
I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it's not my fault,
Acts 20 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 3:18-21 | "If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning... but if you warn..." | Watchman's responsibility to warn |
| Eze 33:2-9 | "If the watchman sees the sword coming... but gives no warning..." | Consequences of not warning the wicked |
| Acts 18:6 | "When they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, 'Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent.'" | Paul's self-declaration of innocence after preaching |
| Acts 20:20 | "I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching..." | Paul's comprehensive preaching |
| Acts 20:27 | "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." | Directly linked reason for his innocence |
| 2 Tim 4:2 | "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." | Ministerial imperative to preach |
| 2 Tim 4:7 | "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." | Paul's assurance of completion and faithfulness |
| 1 Cor 9:16 | "For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting... woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" | Compulsion and woe if gospel isn't preached |
| Col 1:28 | "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ." | Purpose of warning and teaching |
| Jer 23:1-4 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" says the LORD. | Condemnation of negligent shepherds |
| Heb 13:17 | "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account." | Leaders' accountability for souls |
| 1 Pet 5:2-3 | "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you... not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." | Shepherding duty and accountability |
| Luke 11:50-51 | "so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation." | Collective blood-guilt from neglected truth |
| Dt 19:10 | "lest innocent blood be shed in your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, and so bloodguilt come upon you." | Preventing bloodguilt through proper action |
| Matt 27:24 | "So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing... He took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood.'" | Washing hands of responsibility, though falsely done here |
| Acts 23:1 | "And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, 'Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.'" | Paul's integrity and clear conscience |
| Acts 24:16 | "So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and toward man." | Paul's pursuit of a clear conscience |
| 2 Cor 1:12 | "For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity..." | Conscience as witness to behavior |
| Gal 1:8-9 | "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed." | Strictness in delivering the correct gospel |
| 2 Cor 2:17 | "For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ." | Sincere, unadulterated proclamation |
| Num 18:1 | "And the LORD said to Aaron, 'You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear the iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity connected with your priesthood.'" | Priestly responsibility for sanctuary/priesthood |
| 1 Tim 4:16 | "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." | Minister's role in saving self and hearers |
| James 3:1 | "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." | Stricter judgment for teachers |
Acts 20 verses
Acts 20 26 Meaning
In Acts 20:26, the Apostle Paul makes a solemn and emphatic declaration to the Ephesian elders, testifying that he is absolved of any spiritual guilt regarding the eternal fate of those he ministered to. This declaration follows his assertion that he "did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). He claims innocence concerning the "blood" of "all," signifying that if anyone perishes or falls away, it is not due to any failure on his part to fully and truthfully deliver God's message. It underscores his faithfulness in ministry and sets a precedent for pastoral accountability.
Acts 20 26 Context
This verse is part of Paul's profound farewell address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Acts 20:17-38). He had summoned them there, knowing that he was journeying to Jerusalem, likely for the last time. Paul’s speech is intensely personal, reflecting on his own ministry among them (Acts 20:18-21, 33-35) and imparting weighty warnings and exhortations regarding their future shepherding responsibilities (Acts 20:28-31). Leading up to verse 26, Paul had emphasized his diligence and completeness in delivering God's message (Acts 20:20-21, 25). His statement of innocence functions as a strong ethical and spiritual self-vindication, an ancient equivalent of publicly declaring that he has done all he could. This declaration would remind the elders of their similar future obligations and the accountability they too would face as spiritual overseers, particularly in guarding against false teachers. The historical context includes a time of intense evangelistic effort by Paul and the growing pains of early Christian communities, which faced external persecution and internal doctrinal challenges.
Acts 20 26 Word analysis
- Therefore (Διό - Dio): A conjunction signifying "for this reason" or "on account of which." It connects Paul's forthcoming declaration directly to his preceding statements of faithful, unreserved proclamation of God's truth (specifically, Acts 20:20, 25). It points to a logical conclusion drawn from his consistent behavior in ministry.
- I testify (μαρτύρομαι - martyromai): The Greek word here is a solemn and strong verb, meaning "to call to witness," "to solemnly declare," or "to attest." It suggests an appeal to witnesses (in this case, the elders and perhaps God Himself) to affirm the truth of what is being said, often in a judicial or deeply serious context. It's a formal and emphatic statement, not a casual remark.
- to you (ὑμῖν - hymin): This explicitly addresses the Ephesian elders, highlighting that they are not just recipients of his words, but also potential witnesses or co-inheritors of the pastoral mantle and its associated responsibilities. They represent the flock he served.
- this day (σήμερον - sēmeron): Emphasizes the immediate, current, and lasting significance of the declaration. It marks the precise moment of Paul’s final official address and transfer of spiritual authority to the elders. It gives the declaration gravity and makes it unforgettable.
- that I am innocent (καθαρός ἐγὼ εἰμι - katharos egō eimi): "Katharos" means clean, pure, clear, unpolluted, blameless. "Egō eimi" means "I am." Paul is declaring himself ritually, morally, and spiritually clean or pure. This is a claim of blamelessness concerning a spiritual obligation. It indicates that his conscience is clear and he bears no moral guilt regarding the matter.
- of the blood (ἐκ τοῦ αἵματος - ek tou haimatos): Literally "out of the blood." In ancient thought, "blood" often represents life, death, or moral culpability leading to death. "Blood" in this context refers to the spiritual ruin or damnation of individuals. To be "innocent of the blood" means not being responsible for their spiritual demise. It's akin to being free from a charge of murder or being accountable for a fatal outcome, but applied to spiritual rather than physical life. It echoes Old Testament warnings where watchmen (prophets) would be held accountable for the "blood" (spiritual death) of those they failed to warn.
- of all (πάντων - pantōn): This refers to "all men" or "all persons" within the sphere of his ministry among them. It denotes the comprehensive scope of his care and responsibility. Paul claims he has neglected no one in the delivery of the saving truth.
Words-group analysis:
- Therefore I testify to you this day: This phrase powerfully connects Paul's current declaration with his preceding account of diligent and complete ministry. It is a formal, almost judicial assertion, drawing the attention of the elders to the weightiness of his words and their implications for future accountability. The specific inclusion of "this day" imparts solemnity, marking it as a definitive statement made before God and witnesses.
- that I am innocent of the blood of all: This is the core claim of the verse, deeply rooted in the concept of a "watchman" from Old Testament prophecy. Paul proclaims himself free from guilt concerning the spiritual fate of every person he encountered in his ministry. This innocence is predicated on his having "not shrunk from declaring the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). It highlights that Paul sees ministerial responsibility as proclaiming the full truth, and that the ultimate decision (and consequences) for acceptance or rejection lie with the hearers, once the message is delivered without omission. His declaration implicitly calls the elders to likewise pursue such blamelessness in their own pastoral charge.
Acts 20 26 Bonus section
- This declaration by Paul also implies a subtle polemic against any notion that he might have withheld truths for personal gain, popularity, or fear of persecution. His complete transparency (as seen in Acts 20:20, 27) directly contrasts with self-serving or fear-driven religious leaders.
- The concept of being "innocent of the blood" can be paralleled with ceremonial purification practices. Paul uses this vivid metaphor to stress that his conscience is completely clean, not merely ceremonially, but spiritually, before God concerning his pastoral obligations.
- While Acts 20:26 declares Paul's past faithfulness, it also serves as a strong challenge and reminder to the Ephesian elders for their future. His integrity stands as a model, implicitly urging them to uphold the same standard of uncompromising proclamation in the face of spiritual dangers (Acts 20:28-30).
Acts 20 26 Commentary
Acts 20:26 serves as Paul’s definitive statement of ministerial integrity, a climactic moment in his valedictory address. By declaring himself "innocent of the blood of all," Paul emphasizes the profundity of a minister's duty: to fully, fearlessly, and faithfully proclaim God’s complete revelation. This verse powerfully echoes the Old Testament motif of the "watchman" (e.g., Ezekiel 3 and 33), who bears the solemn responsibility of warning the wicked. If the watchman fails, the "blood" of those who perish is on his hands; if he warns faithfully, even if they reject the warning, their blood is on their own heads. Paul asserts that he has discharged this "watchman" duty with utmost fidelity, leaving no part of God's redemptive plan undeclared due to fear, compromise, or desire for popularity. His blamelessness stems not from the salvation of every individual, but from his complete faithfulness in presenting the necessary truth. This sets a demanding standard for all spiritual leaders: their accountability lies in their stewardship of the message, not in the listeners' ultimate response, provided the message has been delivered with sincerity, completeness, and courage.