Innocent of the blood

"And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.  – Acts 20.25-27

A preacher has an awesome responsibility. Well, we all do to some extent, but Paul is making a point here about his ministry. Therefore this is a good reminder for us all, but for preachers in particular.

Paul told them that he was leaving, that they would see him no more. But he had not wasted his time while he was there. He could say with confidence that he was ‘innocent of the blood of all men.’

What did he mean and how could he say that?

Paul was saying that he had done all he could. He could not be held accountable to anything that was left undone because he had declared the whole counsel of God. He had shared the gospel with the lost so was innocent of their blood, which reminds me of God’s charge to Ezekiel, but he was also figuratively ‘innocent of the blood’ of the church because he had faithfully proclaimed God’s word to them.

I wonder how many of us could say that about people we serve and minister to. It is much, much easier to hold back and not upset the apple cart and keep the peace. In our rightful attempt not to offend we can easily be tempted to now do the whole job and preach everything that we need to preach.

However we need to be sure that we preach and teach the whole counsel of God, even when it may not be the most comfortable thing to do. Only then can we be sure that we a ‘innocent of the blood’ of our hearers.