Acts 20:24-31. Having said that he does not know what awaits him in Jerusalem, but that the Spirit has warned him to expect imprisonment and afflictions, Paul continues his speech to the Ephesian elders. He says he does not account his life of any value except as he has been able to accomplish the mission he received from the Lord. He tells them that he will not see them again, and then declares that he is innocent of their blood because he "did not shrink from declaring to [them] the whole counsel of God." Now, he says, they are to take heed both for themselves and for the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made them guardians "to feed the Church of the Lord which he obtained with his own blood." Once he departs, Paul says, fierce wolves will come among them and even some from among their own will begin speaking perverse things and drawing away disciples. Therefore, they must be alert, remembering all Paul's admonishments that he gave them night and day, with tears, for three years.

So now Paul reveals that he will not be back to Ephesus. He knows things in Jerusalem will prevent that. He also must know that things are going to get bad for the whole church, since he tells the Ephesians that he is innocent of their blood. This warning of Paul's is quite stark - wolves are coming and even some of their own will become deceivers. They must stay strong and true to Paul's teachings that he gave them in tears. It certainly will not be easy and, in fact, will end in blood for some of them.

Paul is not proclaiming his innocence of their suffering, they know that he would not do anything to harm them. He is, rather, saying that he has given them all they need to get through the times of suffering, persecution, and even death. He has satisfied the task laid on him by the Lord. He knows that there will be suffering for them, just as there was suffering for Christ, and just as there has been (and will be) suffering for him. By telling them to expect it and to be ready for it by holding fast to the Gospel which he preached to them, Paul satisfies himself that he has prepared them well, and can go to Jerusalem with a clean conscience.

Paul's words and teachings, especially in his letters, are preserved for the whole Church throughout history. There will be times of persecution, I believe such times are on the horizon now. In such times, we must hold fast to the Gospel and not allow ourselves to be led astray, even if it means suffering. Whether he knew it at the time or not, Paul's mission was not only to the world of his time, but to the world for all time, and he did, indeed, carry it out. He is innocent of all of our blood, as he has warned us of the wolves and deceivers, he has told us what we must do, and has prepared us to do it.