17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. |
18 When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. |
19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. |
20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. |
21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. |
22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. |
23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. |
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. |
25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. |
26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. |
27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. |
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.1 20:28 Traditionally bishops Be shepherds of the church of God,2 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord which he bought with his own blood. |
29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. |
30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. |
31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. |
32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. |
33 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. |
34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. |
35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " |
36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. |
37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. |
38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. |
