Acts 18:6
What does Acts 18:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 18:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 18:6 means
Faced with opposition and blasphemy, Paul shakes out his garments, a symbolic act declaring he bears no blame for their refusal. Saying, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean,” he affirms he has faithfully warned them. Their rejection is their responsibility. He then turns to the Gentiles, not abandoning Israel but recognizing where God is presently opening doors. This is a sober moment: the gospel divides, and continued resistance hardens. Yet even here mercy remains available to all who believe. The servant must speak plainly, entrusting outcomes to God, and move on when a field closes, confident that the Lord’s purpose advances elsewhere.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when they put themselves against him, and said evil words, he said, shaking his clothing, Your blood be on your heads, I am clean: from now I will go to the Gentiles.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and on their resisting and speaking evil, having shaken <FI>his<Fi> garments, he said unto them, `Your blood <FI>is<Fi> upon your head--I am clean; henceforth to the nations I will go on.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But they gainsaying and blaspheming, he shook his garments and said to them: Your blood be upon your own heads: I am clean. From henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But as they opposed and spoke injuriously, he shook his clothes, and said to them, Your blood be upon your own head: I [am] pure; from henceforth I will go to the nations.
Context
Paul’s intensified testimony brings a sharp reaction. Verse 6 records the turning point—opposition culminates in a formal break from the synagogue audience. This prepares for the surprising development in the next verses: ministry continues right next door, and key figures from the synagogue will come to faith. The narrative thus holds together divine judgment on unbelief with unexpected grace for those who hear and believe, even in close proximity to hostility.
v.5But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
v.6This passage
v.7And he departed thence, and went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 27:25
And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
- Acts 26:11
And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.
- Romans 10:12
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:
- 1 Peter 4:14
If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.
- Matthew 21:43
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
- Ezekiel 18:13
hath given forth upon interest, and hath taken increase; shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
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