15. The next day we sailed from there and arrived opposite Chios. On the day after, we sailed to Samos, and on the following day we came to Miletus.
16. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he wouldn’t need to spend too much time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by Pentecost Day.
17. From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus calling for the church’s elders to meet him.
18. When they arrived, he said to them, “You know how I lived among you the whole time I was with you, beginning with the first day I arrived in the province of Asia.
19. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears in the midst of trials that came upon me because of the Jews’ schemes.
20. You know I held back nothing that would be helpful so that I could proclaim to you and teach you both publicly and privately in your homes.
21. You know I have testified to both Jews and Greeks that they must change their hearts and lives as they turn to God and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22. Now, compelled by the Spirit, I’m going to Jerusalem. I don’t know what will happen to me there.
23. What I do know is that the Holy Spirit testifies to me from city to city that prisons and troubles await me.
24. But nothing, not even my life, is more important than my completing my mission. This is nothing other than the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus: to testify about the good news of God’s grace.
25. "I know that none of you will see me again—you among whom I traveled and proclaimed the kingdom.
26. Therefore, today I testify to you that I’m not responsible for anyone’s fate.
27. I haven’t avoided proclaiming the entire plan of God to you.
28. Watch yourselves and the whole flock, in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as supervisors, to shepherd God’s church, which he obtained with the death of his own Son.
29. I know that, after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and won’t spare the flock.
30. Some of your own people will distort the word in order to lure followers after them.