Acts 20:21-38

21solemnly 1testifying to both Jews and Greeks of 2repentance toward God and 3faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, bound by the 4Spirit, 5I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that 6the Holy Spirit solemnly 7testifies to me in every city, saying that 8bonds and afflictions await me. 24But 9I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may 10finish my course and 11the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to 12testify solemnly of the gospel of 13the grace of God.

25“And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about 14preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26Therefore, I 15testify to you this day that 16I am 17innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I 18did not shrink from declaring to you the whole 19purpose of God. 28Be on guard for yourselves and for all 20the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you 21overseers, to shepherd 22the church of God which 23He 24purchased 25with His own blood. 29I know that after my departure 26savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing 27the flock; 30and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away 28the disciples after them. 31Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of 29three years I did not cease to admonish each one 30with tears. 32And now I 31commend you to God and to 32the word of His grace, which is able to 33build you up and to give you 34the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 3335I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34You yourselves know that 36these hands ministered to my own needs and to the 37men 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 38knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And 39they began to weep aloud and 4041embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 3842grieving especially over 43the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were 44accompanying him to the ship.