FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE EPHESIAN ELDERS

17 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. 18 When they came to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,g 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews.h 20 You know that I did not hesitate to proclaim anything to you that was profitable and to teach you publicly and from house to house. 21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward Godi and faith in our Lord Jesus.j

22 “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit,C not knowing what I will encounter there,k 23 except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.l 24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my courseD and the ministrym I received from the Lord Jesus,n to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

25 “And now I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see me again. 26 Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocentE of the blood of all of you,o 27 because I did not avoid declaring to you the whole plan of God.p 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flockq of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers,r to shepherd the church of God,F which he purchased with his own blood.s 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them.t 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.u