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17 And from Miletus, having sent to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the assembly,

18 and when they were come unto him, he said to them, `Ye -- ye know from the first day in which I came to Asia, how, with you at all times I was;

19 serving the Lord with all humility, and many tears, and temptations, that befell me in the counsels of the Jews against [me];

20 how nothing I did keep back of what things are profitable, not to declare to you, and to teach you publicly, and in every house,

21 testifying fully both to Jews and Greeks, toward God reformation, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 `And now, lo, I -- bound in the Spirit -- go on to Jerusalem, the things that shall befall me in it not knowing,

23 save that the Holy Spirit in every city doth testify fully, saying, that for me bonds and tribulations remain;

24 but I make account of none of these, neither do I count my life precious to myself, so that I finish my course with joy, and the ministration that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify fully the good news of the grace of God.

25 `And now, lo, I have known that no more shall ye see my face, -- ye all among whom I did go preaching the reign of God;

26 wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I [am] clear from the blood of all,

27 for I did not keep back from declaring to you all the counsel of God.

28 `Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the assembly of God that He acquired through His own blood,

29 for I have known this, that there shall enter in, after my departing, grievous wolves unto you, not sparing the flock,

30 and of your own selves there shall arise men, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

31 `Therefore, watch, remembering that three years, night and day, I did not cease with tears warning each one;

32 and now, I commend you, brethren, to God, and to the word of His grace, that is able to build up, and to give you an inheritance among all those sanctified.

33 `The silver or gold or garments of no one did I covet;

34 and ye yourselves know that to my necessities, and to those who were with me, minister did these hands;

35 all things I did shew you, that, thus labouring, it behoveth [us] to partake with the ailing, to be mindful also of the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

36 And these things having said, having bowed his knees, with them all, he did pray,

37 and there came a great weeping to all, and having fallen upon the neck of Paul, they were kissing him,

38 sorrowing most of all for the word that he had said -- that they are about no more to see his face; and they were accompanying him to the ship.

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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.’

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

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
  2. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son