Acts 20:17-35
And from Miletus, having sent to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the assembly. And when they had come to him he said to them,
“You know how that from the first day on which I arrived in Asia I was with you all the time, serving the Lord with all humility and many tears and trials which happened to me because of the plots of the Jews, how I kept back nothing of what is profitable to you declaring it and teaching you publicly and in your homes, earnestly witnessing, both to Jews and Greeks, repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now look, I, bound in the spirit, am going to Jerusalem not knowing the things which will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies fully in every city saying that bonds and tribulation are awaiting me. But I don’t take account of anything, nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so long as I finish my course with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to witness fully to the joyful news of the grace of God. And now, look, I know that all you among whom I’ve gone about preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
“Therefore I bear witness to you today that I’m clean from the blood of all, for I didn’t hold back from announcing to you all the counsel of God. So be careful for yourselves and for all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has set you overseers to shepherd the assembly of God which he has bought with his own blood. For I know this: that after my departure grievous wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, even from among your own - men speaking perverted things will rise up to draw away the disciples after themselves. So keep awake, remembering that for three years, night and day, I haven’t paused in admonishing each one with tears. And now brethren I commit 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 those who are sanctified. I have desired silver or gold or clothing from no one, but you yourselves know that these hands have ministered to my needs and to those who were with me. I’ve shown you in every way so that working thus we must aid those who are weak and to remember the word of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, - ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
