Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,
- BSB Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of 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 18:6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
- John 12:17The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
- Ezek 3:18–21When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
- Ezek 33:2–9Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
- John 19:35And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
- Rom 10:2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
- 2 Cor 1:23Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
- 1 Th 2:10–12Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
- 2 Cor 8:3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
- Job 16:19Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
- 2 Cor 7:2Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
- 2 Sam 3:28And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
- 1 Tim 5:22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself 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.