Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,
- KJV Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
- NKJV Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
- NASB Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all people.
- NLT I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul declares himself innocent of the blood of all, having faithfully warned everyone. He has discharged his duty before God.
Overview
Drawing on the watchman imagery of Ezekiel, Paul affirms he bears no guilt for any who perish, because he faithfully delivered God's message. His clear conscience rests on having proclaimed the truth without omission. The verse sets a sobering standard for all who teach: faithfulness to the whole word frees the messenger from bloodguilt.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Acts 18:6But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
- John 12:17Meanwhile, many people continued to testify that they had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead.
- Ezek 3:18–21If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood.
- Ezek 33:2–9“Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land choose a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman,
- John 19:35The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
- Rom 10:2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
- 2 Cor 1:23I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
- 1 Th 2:10–12You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
- 2 Cor 8:3For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,
- Job 16:19Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
- 2 Cor 7:2Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.
- 2 Sam 3:28Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
- 1 Tim 5:22Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 20:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.