ACTS 20:15-38

¹⁵And sailing from thence, we came the following day over against Chios; and the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after we came to Miletus.

¹⁶For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

¹⁷And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church.

¹⁸And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time,

¹⁹serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews:

²⁰how that I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house,

²¹testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

²²And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

²³save that the Holy Ghost testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

²⁴But I hold not my life of any account, as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more.

²⁶Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

²⁷For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God.

²⁸Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in the which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.

²⁹I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;

³⁰and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

³¹Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears.

³²And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified.

³³I coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

³⁴Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

³⁵In all things I gave you an example, how that so labouring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

³⁶And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

³⁷And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,

³⁸Sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they should behold his face no more. And they brought him on his way unto the ship.