Thursday, June 05, 2008

What did Paul mean when he said the following in Acts 20:26? “Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.”  What did he mean by that? 

Well, if you were to go back to the book of Ezekiel, chapter 3 verses 18- 21, you will discover what he meant. 

That portion of Scripture talks about if there is a man who is sinning and God sends forth a warning through the prophet, if the prophet does not give that warning to the sinner and he continues in his sin and dies in his sin; his blood would be on the hands of that prophet.  If the prophet, however, warns him, irrespective of the response, his blood would not be upon the prophet’s hands. 

The Apostle Paul is essentially saying, “I have been faithful in presenting the Word of God, the message of God, and including the warning of God where necessary, so I am free and innocent from the blood of all men.” 

He goes on to say in a number of references in this same chapter, “I have one concern, to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.  I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.  So be on your guard, remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.”  He diligently, faithfully shared the Word of God so that he could look people in the eye and say, “I am innocent from the blood of your life if you should go astray or continue in a rebellious state.” 

Oh, that God might move all of us to be faithful in our work that we likewise might be innocent of the blood of all men.