Acts 20:17-38

Wycliffe Bible

¹⁷ From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the greatest men of birth of the church [and called the more men through birth, either the elder men, of the church].

¹⁸ And when they came to him, and were together, he said to them, Ye know from the first day, in which I came into Asia, how with you by each time I was,

¹⁹ serving to the Lord with all meekness, and mildness, and tears, and temptations, that felled to me of ambushings of Jews;

²⁰ how I withdrew not of profitable things to you [how I withdrew nought of profitable things to you], that I told not to you, and taught you openly, and by houses;

²¹ and I witnessed to Jews and to heathen men [witnessing to Jews and heathen men] penance into God, and faith into our Lord Jesus Christ.

²² And now lo! I am bound in spirit, and go into Jerusalem; and I know not [unknowing] what things shall come to me in it,

²³ but that the Holy Ghost by all cities witnesseth to me, and saith [saying], that bonds and tribulations at Jerusalem abide me.

²⁴ But I dread nothing of these, neither I make my life preciouser than myself, so that I end my course [the while I end, or fulfill, my course], and the ministry of the word, which I received of the Lord Jesus, to witness the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵ And now lo! I know, that ye shall no more see my face, all ye by which I passed [all ye by whom I passed], preaching the kingdom of God.

²⁶ Wherefore I witness to you this day, that I am clean of the blood of all men.

²⁷ For I fled not away [For I flew not away], that I told not to you all the counsel of God.

²⁸ Take ye attention to you [Take attention to you], and to all the flock, in which the Holy Ghost hath set you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he [hath] purchased with his blood.

²⁹ I know, that after my departing, ravening wolves [snatching wolves] shall enter into you, not sparing the flock;

³⁰ and men speaking depraved things shall rise of yourselves [and of yourselves men speaking wayward things shall rise], that they lead away disciples after them.

³¹ For which thing wake ye, holding in mind that by three years night and day I ceased not with tears admonishing each of you.

³² And now I betake you to God and to the word of his grace, that is mighty to edify and give heritage in all that be made holy.

³³ And of no man I coveted silver, and gold, either cloak [or cloth],

³⁴ as [ye] yourselves know; for to those things that were needful to me, and to these that be with me, these hands ministered.^[a]

³⁵ All these things I showed to you, for so it behooveth men travailing to receive frail men [to receive the sick], and to have mind of the word of the Lord Jesus; for he said, It is more blessful to give, than to receive [for he said, It is more blessed to give, more than to receive].

³⁶ And when he had said these things, he kneeled, and prayed with all them.

³⁷ And great weeping of all men was made; and they felled on the neck of Paul, and kissed him,

³⁸ and sorrowed most in the word that he said, for they shall no more see his face^[b]. And they led him to the ship.