But when they 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 innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Acts 18:6 NIV
This passage is reminiscent of Ezekiel as a watchman (Ezek. 3:16-21). In that passage, God called Ezekiel to warn the people of God’s judgment on their sins. If he warned them, then they would be responsible for their response. If he did not warn them, then he bore responsibility for their blood.
In this passage, Paul had testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, filling the role of Ezekiel’s watchman. But many of them opposed his message, and his response to them mirrors what Ezekiel might have said: I warned you and am now innocent of the judgment that will fall on you. You bear responsibility for your blood.
Responsibility for Sharing
I am not a prophet like Ezekiel. And I am not an apostle like Paul. God has not called me to be a preacher or an evangelist. But God does bring people into each of our lives who need to hear the gospel message and provides us with the opportunity to share with them. If we fail in that opportunity given to us, and they enter eternity without the Lord, then we are at least partially responsible. We are not responsible for the decision they make. But we do have a responsibility for faithfully sharing the gospel with them.
