Study Desk

From Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and called to himself the elders of the church.

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

And when they came to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,

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,

serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;

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:

how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was beneficial, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,

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,

solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

"And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,

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

except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that chains and afflictions await me.

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

"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of God's grace.

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.

"And now behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.

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

"Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all people.

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

"For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.

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

"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

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.

"I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

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

and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them.

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

"Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

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

"And now I entrust you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

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.

"I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes.

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

"You yourselves know that these hands served my own needs and the men who were with me.

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

"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

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.

When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

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

And they all began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him,

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

grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship.

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.