Acts 20:21–38

²¹I have told both Jews and Greeks that they must turn away from their sins to God. They must have faith in our Lord Jesus.

²²“Now I am going to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit compels me. I don’t know what will happen to me there. ²³I only know that in every city the Spirit warns me. He tells me that I will face prison and suffering. ²⁴But my life means nothing to me. I only want to finish the race. I want to complete the work the Lord Jesus has given me. He wants me to give witness to others about the good news of God’s grace.

²⁵“I have spent time with you preaching about the kingdom. I know that none of you will ever see me again. ²⁶So I tell you today that I am not guilty if anyone has not believed. ²⁷I haven’t let anyone keep me from telling you everything God wants you to do.

²⁸“Keep watch over yourselves. Keep watch over all the believers. The Holy Spirit has made you leaders over them. Be shepherds of God’s church. He bought it with his own blood.

²⁹“I know that after I leave, wild wolves will come in among you. They won’t spare any of the sheep. ³⁰Even men from your own people will rise up and twist the truth. They want to get the believers to follow them. ³¹So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning you. Night and day I warned each of you with tears.

³²“Now I commit you to God’s care. I commit you to the word of his grace. It can build you up. Then you will share in what God plans to give all his people. ³³I haven’t longed for anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. ³⁴You yourselves know that I have used my own hands to meet my needs. I have also met the needs of my companions. ³⁵In everything I did, I showed you that we must work hard and help the weak. We must remember the words of the Lord Jesus. He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶When Paul had said this, he got down on his knees with all of them and prayed. ³⁷They all cried as they hugged and kissed him. ³⁸What hurt them the most was that he had said they would never see his face again. Then they went with him to the ship.