Acts:20:17-38

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* Now from Miletus , having sent to Ephesus , he summoned the elders of the church . * And when they were present with him , he said to them : "You know from the first day which I arrived in Asia , how I was with you the whole time , * serving the Lord with all humility , and many tears and trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews ; * how I kept back nothing that was profitable , but declared it to you , teaching you publicly and from house to house , * solemnly bearing witness to both Jews and to Greeks , the repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus . * And now behold , I , having been bound in the spirit , am going to Jerusalem , not knowing the things that will happen to me there , * except that the Holy Spirit in every city is solemnly bearing witness , saying that bonds and tribulations are waiting for me . * But I count myself as nothing ; nor do I regard my life as valuable to myself , so that I may complete my course with joy , and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus , to bear solemn testimony to the gospel of the grace of God . * And now behold , now I know that you all , among whom I have passed through preaching the kingdom of God , will no longer see my face . * Therefore I testify to you this very day , that I am innocent of all blood . * For I did not draw back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God . * Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock , in which the Holy Spirit placed you [as ]overseers , to shepherd the church of the Lord , and of God , which He purchased with His own blood . * For I know this , that savage wolves will come in after my departure , not sparing the flock . * Also from among you yourselves will arise men speaking things having been distorted , [in order ] to draw away the disciples after them . * Therefore be alert , remembering that for three years , night and day I did not cease , with tears , exhorting each one . * So for the present , I entrust you , brothers , to God and to the word of His grace , which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who have been sanctified . * I have desired the silver or gold or clothes of no one . * You yourselves know that these hands rendered service to my needs , and those who were with me . * By all things I have shown you , that thus laboring it is necessary to help [those ] being weak , and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus , that He said , 'It is more blessed to give than to receive .' " * And having said these things , he knelt down , together with them all , and prayed . * And there was considerable weeping by all , and falling on Paul 's neck , they kissed him , * feeling pain most of all for the words which he said , that they were about to see his face no more . And they accompanied him to the ship .

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