¹⁷ From Miletus,^(A) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders^(B) of the church. ¹⁸ When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,^(C) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.^{(D) 19} I served the Lord with great humility and with tears^(E) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.^{(F) 20} You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything^(G) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have declared to both Jews^(H) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance^(I) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.^(J)

³¹ So be on your guard! Remember that for three years^(A) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.^(B)

³² “Now I commit you to God^(C) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance^(D) among all those who are sanctified.^{(E) 33} I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(F) 34} You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^{(G) 35} In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶ When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.^{(H) 37} They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.^{(I) 38} What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.^(J) Then they accompanied him to the ship.^(K)