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.