28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock(A) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.(B) Be shepherds of the church of God,[a](C) which he bought(D) with his own blood.[b](E) 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves(F) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.(G) 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples(H) after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years(I) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.(J)

32 “Now I commit you to God(K) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance(L) among all those who are sanctified.(M) 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(N) 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.(O) 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.(P) 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.(Q) 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.(R) Then they accompanied him to the ship.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
  2. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

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