Acts 20:17-38 - Paul's Farewell To The Ephesian Elders
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they came, he said to them, "You know well enough how I lived among you all the time from the first day I set foot in Asia, 19 and how I served the Lord most humbly and with tears, through all the trials that I encountered because of the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank from telling you anything that was for your good, nor from teaching you in public or at your houses, 21 but earnestly urged Greeks as well as Jews to turn to God in repentance and to believe in our Lord Jesus.
22 I am here now on my way to Jerusalem, for the Spirit compels me to go there, though I do not know what will happen to me there, 23 except that in every town I visit, the holy Spirit warns me that imprisonment and persecution are awaiting me. 24 But my life does not matter, if I can only finish my race and do the service intrusted to me by the Lord Jesus, of declaring the good news of God's favor.
25 Now I know perfectly well that none of you among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom of God will ever see my face again. 26 Therefore I declare to you today that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, 27 for I have not shrunk from letting you know God's purpose without reserve. 28 Take care of yourselves and of the whole flock, of which the holy Spirit has made you guardians, and be shepherds of the church of God, which he got at the cost of his own life. 29 I know that after I am gone savage wolves will get in among you and will not spare the flock, 30 and from your own number men will appear and teach perversions of the truth in order to draw the disciples away after them. 31 So you must be on your guard and remember that for three years, night and day, I never stopped warning any of you, even with tears.
32 Now I commit you to the Lord, and to the message of his favor, which will build you up and give you a place among those whom God has consecrated. 33 I have never coveted anyone's gold or silver or clothes. 34 You know well enough that these hands of mine provided for my needs and my companions. 35 I showed you in every way that by hard work like that we must help those who are weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, for he said, 'It makes one happier to give than to be given to.' "
36 With these words, he knelt down with them all and prayed. 37 They all wept aloud, and throwing their arms about Paul's neck they kissed him affectionately, 38 for they were especially saddened at his saying that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.