⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double^(A) portion of your spirit,”^(B) Elisha replied.

¹⁷ He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double^(A) share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength.^(B) The right of the firstborn belongs to him.^(C)

¹⁷ I will come down and speak with you^(A) there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them.^(B) They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.^(C)

¹⁷ The elders^(A) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(B) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

⁹ Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit^[a] of wisdom^(A) because Moses had laid his hands on him.^(B) So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

²⁵ Then the Lord came down in the cloud^(A) and spoke with him,^(B) and he took some of the power of the Spirit^(C) that was on him and put it on the seventy elders.^(D) When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied^(E)—but did not do so again.

³¹ Now eagerly desire^(A) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

²⁵ “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom^(A) will ever see me again.^{(B) 26} Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.^{(C) 27} For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.^{(D) 28} Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(E) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(F) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a](G) which he bought^(H) with his own blood.^{[b](I) 29} I know that after I leave, savage wolves^(J) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.^{(K) 30} Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples^(L) after them. ³¹ So be on your guard! Remember that for three years^(M) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.^(N)

³² “Now I commit you to God^(O) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance^(P) among all those who are sanctified.^{(Q) 33} I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(R) 34} You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^{(S) 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.^(T)

¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,^(A) and they received the Holy Spirit.^(B)