^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]

^2 (A)shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,^{[a] (B)}not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;^{[b] (C)}not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³ not ^(D)domineering over those in your charge, but ^(E)being examples to the flock.

^16 (A)Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save ^(B)both yourself and ^(C)your hearers.

¹⁸ knowing that you ^(A)were ransomed from ^(B)the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but ^(C)with the precious blood of Christ, like that of ^(D)a lamb ^(E)without blemish or spot.

² Therefore ^(A)an overseer^[a] must be above reproach, ^(B)the husband of one wife,^{[b] (C)}sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, ^(D)hospitable, ^(E)able to teach,

² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, ^(A)the Holy Spirit said, ^(B)“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul ^(C)for the work to which I have called them.”

¹⁵ “‘And ^(A)I will give you shepherds after my own heart, ^(B)who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

¹⁷ Let the elders ^(A)who rule well be considered worthy of ^(B)double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.