Acts 20:16-38

16For Paul had decided to sail past 1Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in 23Asia; for he was hurrying 4to be in Jerusalem, if possible, 5on the day of Pentecost.

17From Miletus he sent to 6Ephesus and called to him 7the elders of the church. 18And when they had come to him, he said to them,

“You yourselves know, 8from the first day that I set foot in 9Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me 10through 11the plots of the Jews; 20how I 12did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and 13from house to house, 21solemnly 14testifying to both Jews and Greeks of 15repentance toward God and 16faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, bound by the 17Spirit, 18I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that 19the Holy Spirit solemnly 20testifies to me in every city, saying that 21bonds and afflictions await me. 24But 22I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may 23finish my course and 24the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to 25testify solemnly of the gospel of 26the grace of God.

25“And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about 27preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26Therefore, I 28testify to you this day that 29I am 30innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I 31did not shrink from declaring to you the whole 32purpose of God. 28Be on guard for yourselves and for all 33the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you 34overseers, to shepherd 35the church of God which 36He 37purchased 38with His own blood. 29I know that after my departure 39savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing 40the flock; 30and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away 41the disciples after them. 31Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of 42three years I did not cease to admonish each one 43with tears. 32And now I 44commend you to God and to 45the word of His grace, which is able to 46build you up and to give you 47the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 3348I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34You yourselves know that 49these hands ministered to my own needs and to the 50men who were with me. 35In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36When he had said these things, he 51knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And 52they began to weep aloud and 5354embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 3855grieving especially over 56the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were 57accompanying him to the ship.