Acts 18:6

"And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads;. am clean: from henceforth. will go unto the Gentiles"Opposed themselves" "Resisted" (NASV). The word here "is. military term, implying an organized and systematic resistance" (Reese p. 642). "Implying an organized or concerted resistance" (Vincent p. 548). Indicating that the Jewish leadership put up. stubborn and organized resistance to Paul's preaching. "Blasphemed" (Acts 13:45) "Some have supposed that 'Anathema be Jesus' (1 Corinthians 12:3) is. reflection of what some in Corinth had been saying" (Reese p. 642). "He shook out his raiment" "It would be an act that the Jews would remember long after the service was over, for it was the type of thing. man would do when he found that his appeals to their reason and conscience made no impression" (Reese pp. 642-643) (Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:51). "The schools of the scribes taught that the dust of heathen lands was defiling" (Manners/Customs Freeman p. 346).

Thus Paul is giving the synagogue. taste of its own medicine. The same type of physical demonstration (which they had done to others) is now done to them. God is trying to impress upon their minds, that rejecting Jesus puts you into the "pagan" category, regardless of your physical race, social status, and position in the community.

Acts 18:6 "Your blood be upon your own heads" Echoing the instructions given years ago to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:18 ff; Ezekiel 2:4; Ezekiel 2:8 ff). Also note Acts 20:26. This expression infers, the gospel is. very clear message and easy to understand, for Paul places this rejection of his preaching solely on the heads of those who rejected it. If people end up lost then it is their own fault. God is not going to give mankind any additional "warning" besides the Word of God. No second-chances will be given at the final judgment. Paul didn't have the attitude, "Oh well, if you reject my preaching, God will give you another chance to believe at the last day." In addition, notice how the responsibility of rejecting Christ rests solely upon the unbeliever. This means that. cannot blame others for my lack of faith or bad attitude. "I am clean" Notice the fairness. God does not place the responsibility of converting people on our shoulders. He realizes that nobody can be forced to become. Christian, rather God simply requires that we share the gospel with people. The final decision for becoming. Christian rests squarely on the shoulders of the person making that decision. "Henceforth. will go unto the Gentiles" "He would take his saving message to people who knew how to appreciate it. And he had not far to go. For adjoining the synagogue was the house of. God-fearer who had listened to Paul" (Bruce p. 371).

While persistence in teaching someone is important, Paul realized that he could not force people to become Christians, and he did not believe that he had failed when those to whom he preached failed to respond. He realized that he only had so much time and therefore he needed to spend that time preaching to people who would be willing to listen and obey. Paul knew that there always existed people who would hear. We must have that same confidence in the gospel message. There always exists in any community people that will respond. This verse should also serve as. wake-up call to those Christians who have allowed themselves to become apathetic. The church will survive without them, new converts will take their place, and their absence in heaven will not detract from the happiness found there.