Acts 20:17–28

Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders

¹⁷Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. ¹⁸And 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 ^f— ¹⁹serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews ^g— ²⁰and that I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you anything that was profitable or from teaching it to you in public and from house to house. ²¹I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God ^hand faith in our Lord Jesus. ⁱ

²²“And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit, ^jnot knowing what I will encounter there, ^k23except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. ^l24But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course ^mand the ministry ⁿI received from the Lord Jesus, ^oto testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

²⁵“And now I know that none of you will ever see my face again—everyone I went about preaching the kingdom to. ²⁶Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent ^pof everyone’s blood, ^q27for I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole plan of God. ^r28Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock ^sthat the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, ^tto shepherd the church of God, ^uwhich He purchased with His own blood. ^v