4 But we will ^kdevote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

23 And when they had ^fappointed elders for them in every church, ^gwith ^hprayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

28 ⁿPay careful attention to yourselves and to all the ^oflock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,¹ which he obtained with his own blood.² 29 I know that after my departure fierce ^pwolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise ^qmen speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

Personal Greetings

1 ^jI commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant¹ of the church at ^kCenchreae, 2 that you may ^lwelcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

3 Greet ^mPrisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who ⁿrisked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also ^othe church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert² to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.

11 And he gave ^cthe apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds¹ and teachers,²

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the ^dbody of Christ,

12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

17 ^uLet the ^velders who ^wrule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Qualifications for Elders

5 ⁿThis is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and ^oappoint ^pelders in every town as I directed you—

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, ^lpure, ^mworking at home, kind, and ⁿsubmissive to their own husbands, ^othat the word of God may not be reviled.

Shepherd the Flock of God

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a ^ywitness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the ^zflock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,^{1 a}not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;² not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 ^bnot domineering over those in your charge, but being ^cexamples to the flock.