The Ephesian Elders Exhorted

¹⁷ From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. ¹⁸ And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, ^(A)from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me ^(B)by the plotting of the Jews; ²⁰ how ^(C)I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, ^21 (D)testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, ^(E)repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. ²² And see, now ^(F)I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, ²³ except that ^(G)the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. ^24 [a]But ^(H)none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, ^(I)so that I may finish my ^[b]race with joy, ^(J)and the ministry ^(K)which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵ “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. ²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am ^(L)innocent^[c] of the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I have not ^[d]shunned to declare to you ^(M)the whole counsel of God. ^28 (N)Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit ^(O)has made you overseers, to shepherd the church ^[e]of God ^(P)which He purchased ^(Q)with His own blood. ²⁹ For I know this, that after my departure ^(R)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Also ^(S)from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking ^[f]perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. ³¹ Therefore watch, and remember that ^(T)for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

³² “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and ^(U)to the word of His grace, which is able ^(V)to build you up and give you ^(W)an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³ I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ^34 [g]Yes, you yourselves know ^(X)that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. ³⁵ I have shown you in every way, ^(Y)by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶ And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷ Then they all ^(Z)wept ^[h]freely, and ^(AA)fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, ³⁸ sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

⁸ So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased ^(A)to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also ^(B)our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

³ the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— ⁴ that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be discreet, chaste, ^(A)homemakers, good, ^(B)obedient to their own husbands, ^(C)that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

² To Timothy, a ^(A)true son in the faith:

^(B)Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Treatment of Church Members

5 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, ² older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

^20 (A)teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am ^(B)with you always, even to the end of the age.” ^[a]Amen.