¹⁷ And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called for the elders of the church.

¹⁸ And when they had come to him, he said unto them, “Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, in what manner I have been with you in all seasons,

¹⁹ serving the Lord in all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me through the lying in wait of the Jews;

²⁰ and how I kept back nothing that was profitable for you, but have shown you and have taught you publicly and from house to house,

²¹ testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

²² And now behold, bound by the Spirit, I go unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there,

²³ save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

²⁴ But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵ “And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

²⁶ Therefore I attest to you this day that I am pure from the blood of all men,

²⁷ for I have not shrunk from declaring unto you all the counsel of God.

²⁸ “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He hath purchased with His own blood.

²⁹ For I know this: that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

³⁰ Also from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.

³¹ Therefore watch, and remember that for the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.

³² “And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

³³ I have coveted no man’s silver or gold or apparel.

³⁴ Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my own necessities, and also to those who were with me.

³⁵ I have shown you all things, how that by so laboring ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

³⁶ And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.

³⁷ And they all wept sorely and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,

³⁸ sorrowing most of all because of the words which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.