THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES - Chapter 20 - Verse 26

Verse 26. Wherefore. dio. In view of the past, of my ministry and labours 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; I appeal to you to testify. 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 them 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 used often in the sense of death, of blood shed; and hence of the guilt or crime of putting one to death, or condemnation for it, Mt 23:35; 27:25; Ac 5:28; 18:6.

It here means, that if they should die the second death, if they should be lost for ever, 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 men—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.

{*} "record" "declare to you" {c} "pure from the blood" 2 Co 7:2