Acts 20:26

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,

King James Version (1611)
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

King James Version
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

English Standard Version
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,

New American Standard Bible
"Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all people.

New Century Version
So today I tell you that if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible,

Amplified Bible
"For that reason I testify to you on this [our parting] day that I am innocent of the blood of all people.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

Contemporary English Version
I tell you today that I am no longer responsible for any of you!

Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, I testify on this day that I am innocent of the blood of all.

Darby Translation
Wherefore I witness to you this day, that I am clean from the blood of all,

Easy-to-Read Version
So today I can tell you one thing that I am sure of: God will not blame me if some of you are not saved.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore I take you to recorde this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

George Lamsa Translation
Therefore, I testify to you this very day that I am innocent of the blood of all.

Good News Translation
So I solemnly declare to you this very day: if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible.

Lexham English Bible
Therefore I testify to you on this very day that I am guiltless of the blood of all of you,

Literal Translation
Because of this I testify to you on this day that I am pure from the blood of all.

American Standard Version
Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

Bible in Basic English
And so I say to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all men.

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all men,

International Standard Version
I therefore declare to you today that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,Acts 18:6; 2 Corinthians 7:2;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
I testify to you this very day, that I am pure from the blood of you all.

Murdock Translation
I therefore protest to you, this day, that I am pure from the blood of you all.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherefore, I take you to recorde this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

English Revised Version
Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

World English Bible
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all men,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men:

Weymouth's New Testament
Therefore I protest to you to-day that I am not responsible for the ruin of any one of you.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Wherfor Y witnesse to you this day, that Y am cleen of the blood of alle men.

Update Bible Version
Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore I call you to witness this day, that I [am] pure from the blood of all [men].

New English Translation
Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all.

New King James Version
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

New Living Translation
I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it's not my fault,

New Life Bible
I tell you this day that I am clean and free from the blood of all men.

New Revised Standard
Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Wherefore I take you to witness, on this very day, that, pure am I from the blood of all;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore I take you to witness this day that I am clear from the blood of all men.

Revised Standard Version
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Wherfore I take you to recorde this same daye that I am pure fro the bloude of all me.

Young's Literal Translation
wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I [am] clear from the blood of all,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wherfore I take you to recorde this daye, that I am pure from the bloude of all men:

Mace New Testament (1729)
I therefore declare to you at this present time, that I am not responsible for the ruin of any:

Simplified Cowboy Version
I've done my part and what you do with it will be on your heads.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the leaders of the congregation. When they arrived, he said, "You know that from day one of my arrival in Asia I was with you totally—laying my life on the line, serving the Master no matter what, putting up with no end of scheming by Jews who wanted to do me in. I didn't skimp or trim in any way. Every truth and encouragement that could have made a difference to you, you got. I taught you out in public and I taught you in your homes, urging Jews and Greeks alike to a radical life-change before God and an equally radical trust in our Master Jesus. ²²"But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I'm completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won't be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God. ²⁵"And so this is good-bye. You're not going to see me again, nor I you, you whom I have gone among for so long proclaiming the news of God's inaugurated kingdom. I've done my best for you, given you my all, held back nothing of God's will for you. ²⁸ "Now it's up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God's people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for. ²⁹"I know that as soon as I'm gone, vicious wolves are going to show up and rip into this flock, men from your very own ranks twisting words so as to seduce disciples into following them instead of Jesus. So stay awake and keep up your guard. Remember those three years I kept at it with you, never letting up, pouring my heart out with you, one after another. ³² "Now I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends. ³³"I've never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I've done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You're far happier giving than getting.'"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I take: Job 16:19, John 12:17, John 19:35, Romans 10:2, 2 Corinthians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 8:3, 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12

that: Acts 18:6, 2 Samuel 3:28, Ezekiel 3:18-21, Ezekiel 33:2-9, 2 Corinthians 7:2, 1 Timothy 5:22

Reciprocal: Numbers 18:1 - shall bear Deuteronomy 22:8 - thou bring Joshua 2:19 - his blood 2 Samuel 1:16 - Thy blood 1 Kings 22:14 - what the Lord 2 Kings 9:17 - a watchman 2 Chronicles 18:7 - me Psalms 40:10 - not hid Psalms 51:14 - bloodguiltiness Proverbs 14:25 - General Isaiah 21:10 - that which Isaiah 58:1 - spare Jeremiah 13:20 - where Jeremiah 38:21 - this is Jeremiah 42:19 - know Jeremiah 42:21 - I have Ezekiel 2:4 - Thus Ezekiel 3:11 - speak Ezekiel 3:19 - but thou Ezekiel 33:4 - his blood Ezekiel 33:7 - thou shalt Ezekiel 33:8 - that wicked Ezekiel 33:9 - thou hast Ezekiel 34:2 - feed Matthew 10:14 - shake Mark 6:18 - It is Acts 4:11 - you Acts 4:29 - that 2 Corinthians 2:16 - the savour of death 1 Timothy 4:16 - thou shalt James 3:1 - knowing 1 Peter 5:2 - which is among you

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore I take you to record this day,.... This is a solemn appeal to the elders of the church at Ephesus, who knew his doctrine and manner of life for a considerable time among them:

that I am pure from the blood of all men: or "of you all", as some copies, and the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read; which seems most natural, since they could only bear a testimony for him with respect to themselves, and the people at Ephesus, where he had so behaved both in the faithful discharge of his ministry, and in his exemplary life and conversation; as that the ruin and destruction of no one of them could be laid to his charge, or any one perish for want of knowledge, or through any negligence of his; see Ezekiel 33:6.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wherefore - In view of the past, of my ministry and labors among you, I appeal to your own selves to testify that I have been faithful.

I take you to record - Greek: I call you to witness. If any of you are lost; if you prove unfaithful to God, I appeal to yourselves that the fault is not mine. It is well when a minister can make this appeal, and call his hearers to bear testimony to his own faithfulness. Ministers who preach the gospel with fidelity may thus appeal to their hearers; and in the day of judgment may call on themselves to witness that the fault of the ruin of the soul is not to be charged to them.

That I am pure - I am not to be charged with the guilt of your condemnation, as owing to my unfaithfulness. This does not mean that he set up a claim to absolute perfection; but that, in the matter under consideration, he had a conscience void of offence.

The blood of all men - The word “blood” is often used in the sense of “death, of bloodshed”; and hence, of the “guilt or crime of putting one to death,” Matthew 23:35; Matthew 27:25; Acts 5:28; Acts 18:6. It here means that if they should die the second death; if they should be lost forever, he would not be to blame. He had discharged his duty in faithfully warning and teaching them; and now, if they were lost, the fault would be their own, not his.

All men - All classes of people - Jews and Gentiles. He had warned and instructed all alike. Ministers may have many fears that their hearers will be lost. Their aim, however, should be:

1. To save them, if possible; and,
2. If they are lost, that it should be by no neglect or fault of theirs.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 20:26. I am pure from the blood of all — If any man, Jew or Gentile, perish in his sins, his blood shall be upon him; he, alone, shall be accessary to his own perdition. I am blameless, because I have fully shown to both the way to escape from every evil.