Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.(A) 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus(B) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,(C) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,(D) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.(E)

17 From Miletus,(F) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders(G) of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,(H) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.(I) 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears(J) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.(K) 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything(L) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews(M) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance(N) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.(O)

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,(P) not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me(Q) that prison and hardships are facing me.(R) 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;(S) my only aim is to finish the race(T) and complete the task(U) the Lord Jesus has given me(V)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.(W)

25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom(X) will ever see me again.(Y) 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.(Z) 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.(AA) 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock(AB) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.(AC) Be shepherds of the church of God,[a](AD) which he bought(AE) with his own blood.[b](AF) 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves(AG) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.(AH) 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples(AI) after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years(AJ) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.(AK)

32 “Now I commit you to God(AL) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance(AM) among all those who are sanctified.(AN) 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(AO) 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.(AP) 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 Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.(AQ) 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.(AR) 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.(AS) Then they accompanied him to the ship.(AT)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
  2. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son

13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.

16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

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

18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

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

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

23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

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

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

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

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

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

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

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

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

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

38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

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From Troas to Miletus

13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had [a]given orders, intending himself to go on foot. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for (A)he was hurrying (B)to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on (C)the Day of Pentecost.

The Ephesian Elders Exhorted

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, (D)from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me (E)by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how (F)I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 (G)testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, (H)repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now (I)I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that (J)the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 [b]But (K)none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, (L)so that I may finish my [c]race with joy, (M)and the ministry (N)which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am (O)innocent[d] of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not [e]shunned to declare to you (P)the whole counsel of God. 28 (Q)Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit (R)has made you overseers, to shepherd the church [f]of God (S)which He purchased (T)with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure (U)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also (V)from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking [g]perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that (W)for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and (X)to the word of His grace, which is able (Y)to build you up and give you (Z)an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 [h]Yes, you yourselves know (AA)that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, (AB)by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 Then they all (AC)wept [i]freely, and (AD)fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:13 arranged it
  2. Acts 20:24 NU But I do not count my life of any value or dear to myself
  3. Acts 20:24 course
  4. Acts 20:26 Lit. clean
  5. Acts 20:27 avoided declaring
  6. Acts 20:28 M of the Lord and God
  7. Acts 20:30 misleading
  8. Acts 20:34 NU, M omit Yes
  9. Acts 20:37 Lit. much