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)

²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,^(K) not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me^(L) that prison and hardships are facing me.^{(M) 24} However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(N) my only aim is to finish the race^(O) and complete the task^(P) the Lord Jesus has given me^(Q)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(R)

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

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

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

²² Then came the Festival of Dedication^[a] at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(A) 24} The Jews^(B) who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”^(C)

²⁵ Jesus answered, “I did tell you,^(D) but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,^{(E) 26} but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.^{(F) 27} My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,^(G) and they follow me.^{(H) 28} I give them eternal life,^(I) and they shall never perish;^(J) no one will snatch them out of my hand.^{(K) 29} My Father, who has given them to me,^(L) is greater than all^[b];^(M) no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”^(N)