Become Innocent of the Blood of People (A Sobering Accountability)
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Rev. Enoch Thompson | October 23 2025 | Acts 18:5-6
KEY VERSE: “But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’” (Acts 18:6, NIV)
MESSAGE:
The idea that God may hold us accountable for the spiritual fate of others is a sobering truth—one that should awaken us to the urgency of our Christian witness. Paul understood this deeply. In Corinth, he faithfully proclaimed Christ to the Jewish community, reasoning from the Scriptures and proving that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah. He declared that although they had crucified Him in ignorance, Jesus had risen in power and now calls all people, Jew and Gentile alike, to believe and be saved.
When the Jews rejected the message and became abusive, Paul made a decisive statement: “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility.” Paul had done his part. He had shared the truth and was now free from guilt regarding their spiritual condition.
This teaches us an enduring principle: we are responsible for sharing the Gospel, but not accountable for how people respond to it. Still, we must take our responsibility seriously. God places people in our lives—family, friends, students, coworkers, and neighbours—and we are accountable for how we influence them spiritually.
Parents will answer for how they raised their children in the knowledge of God. Teachers will answer for the seeds they sowed or failed to sow in their students. Elders must consider the impact they have on younger believers. Spiritual leaders will give an account for every soul under their care. Even young believers are responsible for sharing Christ with unconverted friends and family.
What a sobering thought—that we would be held accountable for the souls of others! Let this truth stir us to godliness, compassion, and boldness in sharing the Gospel.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
You are accountable to God for someone’s soul. Identify those within your reach and share the Gospel with clarity, love, and a sense of urgency. Live and serve in such a way that you can say, like Paul, “I am innocent of the blood of all people.”
PRAYER:
Lord, this is a weighty truth. You have entrusted me with influence and opportunities to share Your Gospel. Forgive me for the times I’ve been silent or indifferent. Help me to live with holy urgency and compassion so that I may be innocent of the blood of those You’ve placed in my life. For Your dear Name’s sake, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
DAILY word study: OPPOSED
The word “opposed” in Acts 18:6 is translated from the Greek antitassō, meaning “to set oneself against” or “to arrange in resistance.” It conveys a deliberate, organised rejection — not mere disagreement, but active resistance to the truth.
In Corinth, Paul faced hostility from the Jewish community, which refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Yet he remained faithful to his calling. This word reminds us that opposition does not excuse silence. Even when people resist, our duty is to speak the truth in love.
Reflect on this:
Are you silent where God expects you to speak?
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