16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of ^bPentecost.

17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:

^c“You yourselves know how I lived among you ^dthe whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with ^etears and with trials that happened to me through the ^fplots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 ^gtestifying both to ^hJews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.¹ 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by² the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit ⁱtestifies to me in every city that imprisonment and ^jafflictions await me. 24 ^kBut I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about ^lproclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am ^minnocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 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,³ which he obtained with his own blood.⁴ 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. 32 And now I commend 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. 33 ^rI coveted ^sno one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have ^tshown you that by working hard in this way we must ^uhelp the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.