Acts 20:15-35

15Sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day we came to 1Miletus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past 2Ephesus so that he would not have to lose time in 34Asia; for he was hurrying, if it might be possible for him 5to be in Jerusalem 6the day of Pentecost.

17From Miletus he sent word to 7Ephesus and called to himself 8the elders of the church. 18And when they came to him, he said to them,

“You yourselves know, 9from the first day that I set foot in 10Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came upon me 11through 12the plots of the Jews; 20how I 13did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was beneficial, and teaching you publicly and 14from house to house, 21solemnly 15testifying to both Jews and Greeks of 16repentance toward God and 17faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, bound by the 18Spirit, 19I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that 20the Holy Spirit solemnly 21testifies to me in every city, saying that 22chains and afflictions await me. 24But 23I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may 24finish my course and 25the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to 26testify solemnly of the gospel of 27God’s grace.

25“And now behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about 28preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26Therefore, I 29testify to you this day that 30I am 31innocent of the blood of all people. 27For I 32did not shrink from declaring to you the whole 33purpose of God. 28Be on guard for yourselves and for all 34the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you 35overseers, to shepherd 36the church of God which 37He 38purchased 39with His own blood. 29I know that after my departure 40savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing 41the flock; 30and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away 42the disciples after them. 31Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of 43three years I did not cease to admonish each one 44with tears. 32And now I 45entrust you to God and to 46the word of His grace, which is able to 47build you up and to give you 48the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 3349I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34You yourselves know that 50these hands served my own needs and the 51men who were with me. 35In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way 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.’”