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Acts 20:17-38
Modern English Version

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they came to him, he said to them, “You know how I always lived among you from the first day that I came to Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with many tears and trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews. 20 I did not keep from declaring what was beneficial to you, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 “Now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what shall befall me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But none of these things deter me. Nor do I count my life of value to myself, so that I may joyfully finish my course and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 “Now I know that all you, among whom I went proclaiming the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I did not keep from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to the entire flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know that after my departure, dreadful wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Even from among you men will arise speaking perverse things, to draw the disciples away after them. 31 Therefore watch, remembering that for three years night and day I did not cease to warn everyone with tears.

32 “Now, brothers, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities and for those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you how, working like this, you must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36 Having said these things, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept much and embraced Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 grieving most over the words he spoke, that they were to see his face no more. Then they escorted him to the ship.

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Acts 20:17-38
Lexham English Bible

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

17 And from Miletus he sent word[a] to Ephesus and[b] summoned the elders of the church. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them, “You know from the first day on which I set foot in Asia[c] how I was the whole time with you— 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews— 20 how I did not shrink from proclaiming to you anything that would be profitable, and from teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks with respect to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

22 “And now behold, bound by the Spirit I am traveling to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,[d] 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in town after town, saying that bonds and persecutions await me. 24 But I consider my[e] life as worth nothing[f] to myself, in order to finish my mission and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 “And now behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you on this very day that I am guiltless of the blood of all of you,[g] 27 for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the whole purpose of God. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he obtained through the blood of his own Son.[h] 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 And from among you yourselves men will arise, speaking perversions of the truth[i] in order to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you[j] with tears.

32 “And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you[k] up and to give you[l] the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have desired no one’s silver or gold or clothing! 34 You yourselves know that these hands served to meet[m] my needs and the needs of[n] those who were with me. 35 I have shown you with respect to all things that by[o] working hard in this way it is necessary to help those who are in need, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”[p]

36 And when he[q] had said these things, he fell to his knees and[r] prayed with them all. 37 And there was considerable weeping by all, and hugging[s] Paul, they kissed him, 38 especially distressed at the statement that he had said, that they were going to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:17 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  2. Acts 20:17 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sent”) has been translated as a finite verb
  3. Acts 20:18 A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
  4. Acts 20:22 Literally “in it”
  5. Acts 20:24 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  6. Acts 20:24 Or “not a single word”; literally “not any thing”
  7. Acts 20:26 *The words “of you” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  8. Acts 20:28 Or “through his own blood”; the Greek construction can be taken either way, with “Son” implied if the meaning is “through the blood of his own”
  9. Acts 20:30 Literally “crooked things”
  10. Acts 20:31 The words “of you” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  11. Acts 20:32 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  12. Acts 20:32 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  13. Acts 20:34 The words “to meet” are not in the Greek text but are supplied for clarity
  14. Acts 20:34 The words “the needs of” are supplied in keeping with English style to maintain the parallelism with the earlier phrase “my needs”
  15. Acts 20:35 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“working hard”) which is understood as means
  16. Acts 20:35 Perhaps an allusion to Matt 10:8; these exact words are not found in the NT gospels
  17. Acts 20:36 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had said”) which is understood as temporal
  18. Acts 20:36 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“fell to”) has been translated as a finite verb
  19. Acts 20:37 Literally “falling on the neck of”
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.

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