24 But (A)I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only (B)I may finish my course and (C)the ministry (D)that I received from the Lord Jesus, (E)to testify to (F)the gospel of (G)the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, (H)I know that none of you among whom I have gone about (I)proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore (J)I testify to you this day that (K)I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for (L)I did not shrink from declaring to you (M)the whole counsel of God. 28 (N)Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all (O)the flock, in which (P)the Holy Spirit has made you (Q)overseers, (R)to care for (S)the church of God,[a] which he (T)obtained (U)with his own blood.[b] 29 I (V)know that after my departure (W)fierce wolves will come in among you, (X)not sparing the flock; 30 and (Y)from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore (Z)be alert, remembering that (AA)for three years I did not cease night or day (AB)to admonish every one (AC)with tears. 32 And now (AD)I commend you to God and to (AE)the word of his grace, which is able to (AF)build you up and to give you (AG)the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 (AH)I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 (AI)You yourselves know that (AJ)these hands ministered to my necessities and (AK)to those who were with me. 35 In all things (AL)I have shown you that (AM)by working hard in this way we must (AN)help the weak and (AO)remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed (AP)to give than to receive.’

36 And when he had said these things, (AQ)he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And (AR)there was much weeping on the part of all; (AS)they embraced Paul and (AT)kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of (AU)the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And (AV)they accompanied him to the ship.

Paul Goes to Jerusalem

21 And when (AW)we had parted from them and set sail, we (AX)came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.[c] And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And (AY)through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, (AZ)accompanied us until we were outside the city. And (BA)kneeling down on the beach, we prayed

Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:28 Some manuscripts of the Lord
  2. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his Own
  3. Acts 21:1 Some manuscripts add and Myra

24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;(A) my only aim is to finish the race(B) and complete the task(C) the Lord Jesus has given me(D)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.(E)

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

32 “Now I commit you to God(T) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance(U) among all those who are sanctified.(V) 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(W) 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.(X) 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.(Y) 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.(Z) 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.(AA) Then they accompanied him to the ship.(AB)

On to Jerusalem

21 After we(AC) had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,(AD) went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.(AE) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples(AF) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit(AG) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.(AH)

Footnotes

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