From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him. When they came to him, he said to them:

"You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house, as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus. And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God's grace.

"And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again. Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son."

1

Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
but to your Name give glory; *
     because of your love and because of your faithfulness.

2

Why should the heathen say, *
     "Where then is their God?"

3

Our God is in heaven; *
     whatever he wills to do he does.

4

Their idols are silver and gold, *
     the work of human hands.

5

They have mouths, but they cannot speak; *
     eyes have they, but they cannot see;

6

They have ears but they cannot hear; *
     noses, but they cannot smell;

7

They have hands, but they cannot feel;
feet, but they cannot walk; *
     they make no sound with their throat.

8

Those who make them are like them, *
     and so are all who put their trust in them.

1

In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame; *
     deliver me in your righteousness.

2

Incline your ear to me; *
     make haste to deliver me.

3

Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
     for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

4

Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
     for you are my tower of strength.

5

Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
     for you have redeemed me,
     O LORD, O God of truth.