25”And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.”
Two important things Paul declares to the Ephesian elders. First, he announces that they will not see him again. Second, he gives a final defense of his faithfulness to his ministry. He had spent much time with them and developed an intimate friendship with them. To be sure, he would miss them, but his concern was more about them missing him. Rather than coddle them with a feel-good emotional speech, he speaks straightforwardly.
His relationship with them was not just a superficial, natural affinity that rests on shared interests and preferences. It had everything to do with his preaching the message he was sent to give them. This message is described variously in Acts as “the word” (Acts 18:5), “the gospel” (Acts 16:10), “repentance and faith” (Acts 20:21), and here “the kingdom.” We take these to be different perspectives on the same message. Some commentators take this last depiction as Paul’s continual preaching of the Messianic kingdom; they read Luke’s conclusion to Paul’s ministry in Acts 28:31 as a summary of Paul’s kingdom message. While this interpretation is not at all conclusive, the perspectives all overlap and find their focus on Jesus Christ—and the essential message remains the same. Paul’s teaching indicates that he believed the Lord’s return would be soon (1 Cor. 11:26). But the Messianic kingdom did not arrive during Paul’s time, nor has it yet during our time.
In light of his imminent departure, Paul feels compelled to give a defense of his behavior among them. He was criticized greatly—there is no doubting that. Persecution itself is the ultimate form of criticism. However, the greater criticism would be God’s judgment on Paul. He saw himself as accountable to the One who called him into this service. The phrase “innocent of the blood” is a euphemism for the dire consequences of a person’s fate, in this case, of rejecting the gospel message. Paul was accountable for his faithful preaching, but he was not accountable for their rejection of that message. Again he uses the word “shrink” to convey there was much opposition to overcome.
Sharing the gospel has many obstacles, and we may think of many reasons to shrink back. But we are accountable to God for warning those around us of the need to repent and turn to Christ.
Lord, I confess my fear and complacency. Renew in me a passion for the gospel.
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