Parallel Bible results for "acts 20:17-38"

Acts 20:17-38

GOD'S WORD Translation GW

17 From Miletus Paul sent messengers to the city of Ephesus and called the spiritual leaders of the church to meet with him [in Miletus].

18 When they were with him, he said to them, "You know how I spent all my time with you from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia.

19 I humbly served the Lord, often with tears in my eyes. I served the Lord during the difficult times I went through when the Jews plotted against me.

20 I didn't avoid telling you anything that would help you, and I didn't avoid teaching you publicly and from house to house.

21 I warned Jews and Greeks to change the way they think and act and to believe in our Lord Jesus.

22 "I am determined to go to Jerusalem now. I don't know what will happen to me there.

23 However, the Holy Spirit warns me in every city that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me.

24 But I don't place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I'm running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus--the mission of testifying to the Good News of God's kindness.

25 "Now I know that none of you whom I told about the kingdom [of God]will see me again.

26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am not responsible for the [spiritual] death of any of you.

27 I didn't avoid telling you the whole plan of God.

28 Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God's church which he acquired with his own blood.

29 I know that fierce wolves will come to you after I leave, and they won't spare the flock.

30 Some of your own men will come forward and say things that distort the truth. They will do this to lure disciples into following them.

31 So be alert! Remember that I instructed each of you for three years, day and night, at times with tears in my eyes.

32 "I am now entrusting you to God and to his message that tells how kind he is. That message can help you grow and can give you the inheritance that is shared by all of God's holy people.

33 "I never wanted anyone's silver, gold, or clothes.

34 You know that I worked to support myself and those who were with me.

35 I have given you an example that by working hard like this we should help the weak. We should remember the words that the Lord Jesus said, 'Giving gifts is more satisfying than receiving them.'"

36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down and prayed with all of them.

37 Everyone cried a lot as they put their arms around Paul and kissed him.

38 The thought of not seeing Paul again hurt them most of all. Then they took Paul to the ship.

New International Version NIV

17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.

18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.

19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.

20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.

21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.

23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.

26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.

27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.

35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.

38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.