Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

¹⁷ Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called ^(A)the elders of the church to come to him. ¹⁸ And when they came to him, he said to them:

^(B)“You yourselves know ^(C)how I lived among you the whole time ^(D)from the first day that I set foot in Asia, ^19 (E)serving the Lord ^(F)with all humility and with ^(G)tears and with trials that happened to me through ^(H)the plots of the Jews; ²⁰ how I ^(I)did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and ^(J)teaching you in public and from house to house, ^21 (K)testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of ^(L)repentance toward God and of ^(M)faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.^[a]

^28 (A)Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all ^(B)the flock, in which ^(C)the Holy Spirit has made you ^(D)overseers, ^(E)to care for ^(F)the church of God,^[a] which he ^(G)obtained ^(H)with his own blood.^{[b] 29} I ^(I)know that after my departure ^(J)fierce wolves will come in among you, ^(K)not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and ^(L)from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore ^(M)be alert, remembering that ^(N)for three years I did not cease night or day ^(O)to admonish every one ^(P)with tears. ³² And now ^(Q)I commend you to God and to ^(R)the word of his grace, which is able to ^(S)build you up and to give you ^(T)the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.