²³ So when they had ^(A)appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Qualified Elders

⁵ For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should ^(A)set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—

^30 (A)This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, ^(A)anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

³² “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and ^(A)to the word of His grace, which is able ^(B)to build you up and give you ^(C)an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

²² Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor ^(A)share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

The Ephesian Elders Exhorted

¹⁷ From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

Greeting to Gaius

¹ The Elder,

To the beloved Gaius, ^(A)whom I love in truth:

² Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. ³ For I ^(B)rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater ^(C)joy than to hear that ^(D)my children walk in ^[a]truth.

Gaius Commended for Generosity

⁵ Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren ^[b]and for strangers, ⁶ who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, ⁷ because they went forth for His name’s sake, ^(E)taking nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸ We therefore ought to ^(F)receive^[c] such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. ¹⁰ Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, ^(G)prating^[d] against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

¹¹ Beloved, ^(H)do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. ^(I)He who does good is of God, ^[e]but he who does evil has not seen ^(J)God.

¹² Demetrius ^(K)has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also ^[f]bear witness, ^(L)and you know that our testimony is true.

Farewell Greeting

^13 (M)I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; ¹⁴ but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.

Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.