Acts 20:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Next he is about to say something still more striking, namely, “I am clean from the blood of all.” Therefore he prepares them beforehand and shows that nothing more remains.

Since he is about to lay the whole burden and load upon them, he first touches their soul with the words, “And now, behold, I know that all you will see my face no more.” Then he says, “I am clean from the blood of all.”

There is a double sorrow: that they will no longer see his face, and that all of them will not see it. “Behold,” he says, “I know that all you among whom I went preaching the Kingdom of God will see my face no more.”

"I am innocent," he says, "of the blood of all." If you are weighed down with sleep and die at the hands of the murderer of souls, I have fulfilled the duty of a teacher. "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God."

Then the holy apostle announces his separation from them, and indeed a final one. Certain persons in various Churches, by the clairvoyance given to them, foretold that bonds and sufferings awaited him in Jerusalem (Acts 21:4, 11).

The Holy Spirit, the holy Apostle Paul continued, “testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me” in Jerusalem. “But I regard nothing and do not count my life precious, if only I may finish with joy my ministry, which I received from the Lord Jesus, to preach the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I went preaching the Kingdom of God will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all.

"I am innocent of the blood of all." A false teacher is answerable for the souls of those who hear his word, as though he had shed their blood, which is our life (see Lev 17:11-14; Deut 12:23). The words "I am innocent" most likely mean this: "I bear witness that my teaching takes eternal life from no one, but speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let the one who does not hear me consider himself a murderer. For I am not guilty of the blood of all who hear the words and do not believe."

In view of the approaching separation from the Ephesian pastors, the apostle considers it necessary to give them his final instruction, as though a deathbed testament. Since, he says to them, I shall soon leave you and you will no longer see my face, I first testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all. I am not guilty of the perdition of any one of you, should such a thing befall them.

For my part, I did not neglect any opportunity to declare to you the whole will of God. This means everything that each of you must know in order to be saved himself and to lead the entrusted spiritual flock to salvation.

“Therefore,” that is, because I am now, this day, taking leave of you forever, “I testify to you.” I assure you, and at the same time I call you yourselves as witnesses. I feel the duty of conscience to give an account before you and before God of my actions among you.

“I am clean from the blood of all.” I am guilty of no one’s perdition (Acts 18:6 and note), should such perdition follow for anyone. I am guiltless because I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole will of God concerning the salvation of all.

Therefore everyone could hear this will of God from me and be saved. If anyone perishes, then I am not guilty, but he himself is to blame. Either he did not wish to know and hear of this will of God, or he was careless in carrying out what he knew and heard.

Foretelling his final separation from his hearers, the apostle as it were justifies himself before them against the thought that he had not taught them sufficiently. Yet he says that he went about everywhere to them for preaching. Everything that had to be said about the Kingdom of God and the will of God, he declared. He used every suitable circumstance for this.

In all this the presbyters had to see lessons worthy of being carried out in their own pastoral work.