Acts 20:17-38
Christian Standard Bible
Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders
17 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. 18 When they came to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,(A) 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews.(B) 20 You know that I did not hesitate to proclaim anything to you that was profitable and to teach you publicly and from house to house. 21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God(C) and faith in our Lord Jesus.(D)
22 “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit,[a] not knowing what I will encounter there,(E) 23 except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.(F) 24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course[b] and the ministry(G) I received from the Lord Jesus,(H) to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.
25 “And now I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see me again. 26 Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent[c] of the blood of all of you,(I) 27 because I did not avoid declaring to you the whole plan of God.(J) 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock(K) of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers,(L) to shepherd the church of God,[d] which he purchased with his own blood.(M) 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them.(N) 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.(O)
32 “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace,(P) which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance(Q) among all who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(R) 34 You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who are with me.(S) 35 In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them.(T) 37 There were many tears shed by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.(U)
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Acts 20:17-38
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders
17 From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him.(A) 18 When they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,(B) 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20 I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house,(C) 21 as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.[a](D) 22 And now, as a captive to the Spirit,[b] I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,(E) 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.(F) 24 But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.(G)
25 “And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again.(H) 26 Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,(I) 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.(J) 28 Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God[c] that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.[d](K) 29 I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.(L) 30 Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.(M) 32 And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.(N) 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing.(O) 34 You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions.(P) 35 In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”(Q)
36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed.(R) 37 There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,(S) 38 grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.(T)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.