Acts 20:17-38
1599 Geneva Bible
17 ¶ Wherefore from [a]Miletus, he sent to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the Church.
18 [b]Who when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19 Serving the Lord with all modesty, and with many tears, and temptations, which came unto me by the layings await of the Jews,
20 And how I kept [c]back nothing that was profitable, but have showed you, and taught you openly and throughout every house.
21 Witnessing both to the Jews, and to the Grecians the repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 [d]And now behold, I go [e]bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, and know not what things shall come unto me there,
23 Save that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But I pass not at all, neither is my life dear unto myself, so that I may fulfill my course with joy, and the ministration which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now behold, I know that henceforth ye all, through whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am [f]pure from the blood of all men.
27 [g]For I have kept nothing back, but have showed you all the counsel of God.
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, whereof the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to [h]feed the Church of God which [i]he hath purchased with [j]that his own blood.
29 [k]For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Moreover of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to [l]draw disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone, both night and day with tears.
32 [m]And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build further, and to give you an [n]inheritance, among all them, which are sanctified.
33 [o]I have coveted no man’s silver, nor gold, nor apparel.
34 Yea, ye know, that these hands have ministered unto my (A)necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have showed you all things, how that so laboring, ye ought to [p]support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how that he said, It is a blessed thing to give, rather than to receive.
36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
37 [q]Then they wept all abundantly, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
38 Being chiefly sorry for the words which he spake, That they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 20:17 According as the situation of these places is set forth, that distance between Ephesus and Miletus was about 400 furlongs, which maketh almost fifty Dutch miles.
- Acts 20:18 A lively image of a true pastor.
- Acts 20:20 I refrained not to speak, neither dissembled in any respect whatsoever, either for fear or lucre’s sake.
- Acts 20:22 He testifieth that he goeth to his bonds by the commandment of God.
- Acts 20:22 He calleth that motion of the holy Ghost, which forced him to take his journey to Jerusalem, the bond of the Sprit, whom he followed with all his heart.
- Acts 20:26 If you do perish, yet there shall be no fault in me, see Acts 18:6.
- Acts 20:27 The doctrine of the Apostles is most perfect and absolute.
- Acts 20:28 To keep it, to feed it, and govern it.
- Acts 20:28 A notable sentence for Christ’s Godhead: which showeth plainly in his person, how that by reason of the joining together of the two natures in his own person, that which is proper to one is spoken of the other being taken in the derivative, and not in the primitive: which in old time the godly fathers termed a communicating or fellowship of proprieties, that is to say, a making common of that to two, which belongeth but to one.
- Acts 20:28 This word, That showeth the excellency of this blood.
- Acts 20:29 A prophecy of pastors that should straightway degenerate into wolves against such as boast and brag only of a succession of persons.
- Acts 20:30 This is a great misery, to want the presence of such a shepherd, but greater to have wolves enter in.
- Acts 20:32 The power of God, and his free promises revealed in his word, are the props and upholders of the ministry of the Gospel.
- Acts 20:32 As children, and therefore of free love and good will.
- Acts 20:33 Pastors must before all things beware of covetousness.
- Acts 20:35 As it were by reaching out the hand to them, which otherwise are about to slip and fall away, and so to stay them.
- Acts 20:37 The Gospel doth not take away natural affections, but ruleth and bridleth them in good order.
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