Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 18:6
Verse 6. When they opposed] antitassomenwn, Systematically opposing, putting themselves in warlike order against him: so the word implies. And blasphemed] This is precisely the way in which they still act. They have no arguments against Jesus being the Messiah; but, having made a covenant with unbelief, as soon as they are pressed on this point, they rail and blaspheme.-See the Tela ignea Satanae, by Wagenseil.
He shook his raiment] This was an action similar to that of shaking the dust of the feet; see on Matt. x. 14. See a parallel act, and its signification, in Neh. v. 13: Also I SHOOK MY LAP, and said, So shall God SHAKE every man FROM HIS HOUSE and FROM his labour; even thus shall he be SHAKEN OUT and EMPTIED. St. Paul's act on this occasion seems to have been the same with this of Nehemiah, and with the same signification; and it is likely that he was led by a Divine impulse to do it-thus signifying the shaking and emptying out of this disobedient people, which took place about sixteen years afterwards.
Your blood be upon your own heads] That is, ye alone are the cause of the destruction that is coming upon yourselves and upon your country.
I am clean] kaqarov egw, I am pure or innocent of your death and ruin.
I have proposed to you the Gospel of Jesus Christ-the only means by which ye can be saved, and ye have utterly rejected it. I shall labour no more with you; and, from henceforth, shall confine my labours to the Gentiles. St. Paul must refer to the Jews and Gentiles of Corinth particularly; for he preached to the Jews occasionally in other places; see chap. xix. 8, 9; and several were brought to the knowledge of the truth. But it seems as if the Jews from this time systematically opposed the Gospel of Christ; and yet, general tenders of this salvation were made to them wherever the apostles came; and when they rejected them, the word was sent to the Gentiles; see chap. xix. 8, 9.
Pure from blood, or pure from guilt, is commonly expressed by kaqarov; thus Heliodourus, lib. i. p. xli10: eiv deuro dietelesa kaqaran emauthn apo shv omiliav fulattousa, Until now I have lived, preserving myself pure: and Alciphron, lib. i. epist. 7, ad. fin.: oude mianai luqrw tav ceirav, av h qalatta ek paidov eiv deuro kaqarav adikhmatwn efulaxe, Nor to stain with pollution the hands which a seafaring life has kept from a child until now pure from iniquity.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 6. And when they opposed themselves , etc.] To the truth, and contradicted themselves in many instances, and their own prophecies; or those books which they themselves allowed to be the oracles of God, and blasphemed both Christ, and the apostle, and the doctrine which he taught; and railed at him, and spoke evil of him, and used him in a very contumelious and reproachful manner, as they were used from contradicting to go to blaspheming; (see Acts 13:45) he shook his raiment ; his outer garment, and the dust off from it, as a testimony against them; (see Matthew 10:14, Acts 13:51) and said unto them, your blood be upon your heads ; meaning, that they were the authors of their own ruin and destruction; that they could not impute it to any other, when it came upon them; and that they were left inexcusable, and must bear their own iniquities, and the punishment of them: this clause is wanting in the Syriac version. I am clean ; meaning from their blood; (see Acts 20:26). The apostle seems to allude to ( Ezekiel 33:4-9) signifying, that he had discharged his duty as a preacher, and so had delivered his own soul from their blood being required at his hands; and that it rested entirely on themselves, and they were answerable for all their impenitence, unbelief, and blasphemy: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles ; in that city, and preach the Gospel to them, and no more enter into their synagogue, as it is very likely he afterwards never did; for though Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, was afterwards converted, yet his conversion seems to have been not in the synagogue, but in the house of Justus, which was hard by it.
Compare with this ( Acts 13:46).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Though Paul was entitled to support from the churches he planted, an from the people to whom he preached, yet he worked at his calling. A honest trade, by which a man may get his bread, is not to be looke upon with contempt by any. It was the custom of the Jews to bring u their children to some trade, though they gave them learning of estates. Paul was careful to prevent prejudices, even the mos unreasonable. The love of Christ is the best bond of the saints; an the communings of the saints with each other, sweeten labour, contempt and even persecution. Most of the Jews persisted in contradicting the gospel of Christ, and blasphemed. They would not believe themselves and did all they could to keep others from believing. Paul hereupo left them. He did not give over his work; for though Israel be no gathered, Christ and his gospel shall be glorious. The Jews could no complain, for they had the first offer. When some oppose the gospel, we must turn to others. Grief that many persist in unbelief should no prevent gratitude for the conversion of some to Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
αντιτασσομενων 498 5734 V-PMP-GPM δε 1161 CONJ αυτων 846 P-GPM και 2532 CONJ βλασφημουντων 987 5723 V-PAP-GPM εκτιναξαμενος 1621 5671 V-AMP-NSM τα 3588 T-APN ιματια 2440 N-APN ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S προς 4314 PREP αυτους 846 P-APM το 3588 T-NSN αιμα 129 N-NSN υμων 5216 P-2GP επι 1909 PREP την 3588 T-ASF κεφαλην 2776 N-ASF υμων 5216 P-2GP καθαρος 2513 A-NSM εγω 1473 P-1NS απο 575 PREP του 3588 T-GSM νυν 3568 ADV εις 1519 PREP τα 3588 T-APN εθνη 1484 N-APN πορευσομαι 4198 5695 V-FDI-1S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. Opposed themselves (antitassomenwn). Implying an organized or concerted resistance. See on resisteth, 1 Pet. v. 5.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:6 {When they opposed themselves} (antitassomenwn autwn). Genitive absolute with present middle (direct middle again) of antitassw, old verb to range in battle array (tassw) face to face with or against (anti). In the N.T. only here and #Ro 13:2; Jas 4:6; 1Pe 5:5. Paul's fresh activity roused the rabbis as at Antioch in Pisidia and at Thessalonica in concerted opposition and railing (blasphemy). {He shook out his raiment} (ektinaxamenos ta himatia). First aorist middle of ektinassw, old verb, in the N.T. only here as in #13:51 (middle) and #Mr 6:11; Mt 10:15 where active voice occurs of shaking out dust also. Vivid and dramatic picture here like that in #Ne 5:13, "undoubtedly a very exasperating gesture" (Ramsay), but Paul was deeply stirred. {Your blood be upon your own heads} (to haima humwn epi ten kefalen humwn). As in #Eze 3:18f., 33:4,8f.; 2Sa 1:16. Not as a curse, but "a solemn disclaimer of responsibility" by Paul (Page) as in #Ac 20:26. The Jews used this very phrase in assuming responsibility for the blood of Jesus (#Mt 27:25). Cf. #Mt 23:35. {I am clean} (kaqaros egw). Pure from your blood. Repeats the claim made in previous sentence. Paul had done his duty. {From henceforth} (apo tou nun). Turning point reached in Corinth. He will devote himself to the Gentiles, though Jews will be converted there also. Elsewhere as in Ephesus (#19:1-10) and in Rome (#Ac 28:23-28) Paul will preach also to Jews.
