Blaspheme

What does "blasphemed" (Acts 18:6) mean?
βλασφημουντων (blasphemounton), the original Greek word translated "blasphemed," means "speaking impiously or irreverently of God."

What words blaspheme today?
Any expression that mentions "God," "Jesus," "Christ," "Lord," or "Holy" in an impious or irreverent manner, including to express shock, surprise, frustration or disgust.

What are some common examples of expressions that blaspheme?
"Oh my G_d"
"G_d damn it"
"H_ _ y [excrement]"

What did God say about people who blaspheme?
Creatures exist to glorify the Creator, who is so against His creatures verbally rebelling against Him and their purpose of existence that He made the interdiction of blasphemy one of His Ten Commandments: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7).

What is God's penalty for those who blaspheme?
Death: And the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the LORD might be shown to them. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall be put to death'" (Leviticus 24:11-16).

What must people who have blasphemed do now?
Repent and cry out to God for forgiveness through the blood of Jesus, and never blaspheme again.

What must Christians do when we hear people blaspheme?
If you heard someone curse your father, mother, husband or wife, would you remain silent and let them continue, or would you confront them and defend the honor of your loved one? How much more you should defend the honor of your Creator and Savior! When you hear someone blaspheme, confront the blasphemer, advise him or her of the seriousness of both their sin against God and His penalty (above) for it, and warn them not to blaspheme again. If you hear someone blaspheme on TV, change the channel. If you hear someone blaspheme in a movie that you are watching at a movie theatre, exit the projection hall, ask to see the manager, advise him or her of the violation against both God and your religious beliefs, and request a refund. They will provide it, and eventually inform their superiors that movies that blaspheme cause them to lose money. If you hear someone blaspheme in a movie you purchased online, file a complaint and request a refund to customer service. Do this not for the refund but to defend God's Holy name and honor.

Why did Paul shake "his garments" (Acts 18:6) at the Jews who opposed him?
As a testimony against their rejection of the Gospel, as Jesus had commanded: "And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them..." (Mark 6:11)

Why did Paul tell them, "Your blood be upon your own heads" (Acts 18:6)?
They had "blasphemed" (Acts 18:6) and therefore would suffer the consequences. But he was also referring to the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel's warning: "1 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. 7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul." (Ezekiel 33:1-9)

Why is Ezekiel 33:1-9 a liberating, as well as a frightening passage for all who have the responsibility to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
It is liberating because it limits our responsibility to warning against and sharing the Gospel, not to converting anyone. It is frightening because God is declaring that if we do not warn against sin and share the Gospel - if "you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand" (Ezekiel 33:8).

Who has the responsibility to share the Gospel?
Every Christian.

What did God mean by requiring "blood ... at your hand" (Ezekiel 33:8)?
You will not "have delivered your soul" (Ezekiel 33:9) - i.e., it will prove that you yourself are not saved.