Blood In Acts 20:26

[Anastasia13]

Acts: 20:²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

 

What is meant here about why he is innocent of the blood of all men? Why does the author say that?

[Byzantine]

Taking the whole thing in context, it seems to me that St. Paul's telling the presbyters that he told them what the Douay-Rheims 1899 translates as "all the counsel of God", so if they stray it isn't his responsibility.

Edited May 5, 2013 by Byzantine

[Byzantine]

In retrospect, that doesn't seem to have fully answered the question. Sorry!

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Answered my question. It means i don't have to feel guilty if someone i know and have ministered to goes bad. I suffer with such guilt, now you have enlightened me to the scripture that says i don't have to. Gracious thanks. God bless.

Edited May 6, 2013 by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye

[Byzantine]

Answered my question. It means i don't have to feel guilty if someone i know and have ministered to goes bad. I suffer with such guilt, now you have enlightened me to the scripture that says i don't have to. Gracious thanks. God bless.

Just remember, that's my personal opinion. I'm not a Scholar or even Militant.

[LouisvilleFan]

Acts: 20:²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

 

What is meant here about why he is innocent of the blood of all men? Why does the author say that?

 

Well, he does answer the question in the next several verses:

²⁶ Wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I am clear from the blood of all men;

²⁷ For I have not spared to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

²⁸ Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

²⁹ I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

³⁰ And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

³¹ Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish every one of you night and day.

³² And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified.

 

 

Basically, St. Paul, like any minister of the Gospel, knows he will be held accountable to God for those who were under his pastoral care. Like a bishop is accountable for the diocese, a priest for his parish, and parents for their children, he is saying that he has not spared anything in expending himself for the sake of those God placed under his teaching. It might sound a bit prideful to make such a claim, though to use the metaphor of an athlete running the race, the athlete knows when they have left it all on the field and -- whether they win or lose -- leave the game with no regrets about their effort. He isn't saying this to speak of his own saintliness, but to encourage his followers (especially bishops) to follow his example.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Just remember, that's my personal opinion. I'm not a Scholar or even Militant.

 

 

Me neither :)

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Well, he does answer the question in the next several verses:

²⁶ Wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I am clear from the blood of all men;

²⁷ For I have not spared to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

²⁸ Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

²⁹ I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

³⁰ And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

³¹ Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish every one of you night and day.

³² And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified.

 

 

 

What i get out of this is that st paul is leaving whomever he is talking to unto the care of God now, and that he has taught them as much as he can. And now there behavior is between them, there appointed leaders and God, and not his responsibility.