Focused Passage

Acts 20:25-38

Paul’s Farewell Charge to Shepherd the Church of God

Paul encourages the churches, escapes a plot, gathers with believers in Troas, restores Eutychus, travels toward Jerusalem, and charges the Ephesian elders to guard themselves and shepherd the church of God.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

25 Now I know that none of you among whom I have preached the kingdom will see my face again.

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

27 For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.

28 Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

29 I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

30 Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

32 And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.

33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.

35 In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

37 They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him.

38 They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 25

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction Now νῦν G3568 Adverb - ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular know οἶδα G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction [none of] πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural among ἐν G1722 Preposition whom οἷς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Plural vvv διῆλθον G1330 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular I have preached κηρύσσων G2784 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείαν G932 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular will see ὄψεσθε G3708 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular face πρόσωπόν G4383 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular [again] οὐκέτι G3765 Adverb
Verse 26

Original words

Therefore διότι G1360 Conjunction I testify μαρτύρομαι G3143 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural - ἐν G1722 Preposition this σήμερον G4594 Adverb - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular day ἡμέρᾳ G2250 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I [am] εἰμι G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular innocent καθαρός G2513 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular of ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular blood αἵματος G129 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular of all [men] πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural

BSB notes

  • See Ezekiel 33:8–9.
Verse 27

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb I did not shrink back ὑπεστειλάμην G5288 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb from declaring ἀναγγεῖλαι G312 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular whole πᾶσαν G3956 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular will βουλὴν G1012 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 28

Original words

Keep watch over Προσέχετε G4337 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural yourselves ἑαυτοῖς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular entire παντὶ G3956 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular flock ποιμνίῳ G4168 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular of ἐν G1722 Preposition which G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Holy Ἅγιον G40 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular has made ἔθετο G5087 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural overseers ἐπισκόπους G1985 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Be shepherds ποιμαίνειν G4165 Verb - Present Infinitive Active of the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular church ἐκκλησίαν G1577 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular which ἣν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular He purchased περιεποιήσατο G4046 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular with διὰ G1223 Preposition [His] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular own ἰδίου G2398 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular blood αἵματος G129 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular

BSB notes

  • Tischendorf of the Lord; BYZ and PT of the Lord and God
  • Or with the blood of His own Son.
Verse 29

Original words

I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular know οἶδα G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction after μετὰ G3326 Preposition my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular departure ἄφιξίν G867 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular savage βαρεῖς G926 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural wolves λύκοι G3074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural will come in εἰσελεύσονται G1525 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural among εἰς G1519 Preposition you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb and will not spare φειδόμενοι G5339 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular flock ποιμνίου G4168 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 30

Original words

Even καὶ G2532 Conjunction from ἐξ G1537 Preposition your own ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural number αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural men ἄνδρες G435 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural will rise up ἀναστήσονται G450 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural [and] distort διεστραμμένα G1294 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Plural [the truth] λαλοῦντες G2980 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular to draw away ἀποσπᾶν G645 Verb - Present Infinitive Active - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural disciples μαθητὰς G3101 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural after ὀπίσω G3694 Preposition them ἑαυτῶν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 31

Original words

Therefore διὸ G1352 Conjunction be alert γρηγορεῖτε G1127 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural [and] remember μνημονεύοντες G3421 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction for three years τριετίαν G5148 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb I never stopped ἐπαυσάμην G3973 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular warning νουθετῶν G3560 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular each ἕκαστον G1538 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular [of you] ἕνα G1520 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular night νύκτα G3571 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction day ἡμέραν G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular with μετὰ G3326 Preposition tears δακρύων G1144 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Verse 32

Original words

And Καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural now νῦν G3568 Adverb I commit παρατίθεμαι G3908 Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural to τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular God θεῷ* G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction to the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular word λόγῳ G3056 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular of τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular grace χάριτος G5485 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular which τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular can δυναμένῳ G1410 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Singular build [you] up οἰκοδομῆσαι G3618 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active and καὶ G2532 Conjunction give δοῦναι G1325 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active you τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular an inheritance κληρονομίαν G2817 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular among ἐν G1722 Preposition all πᾶσιν G3956 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural who τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural are sanctified ἡγιασμένοις G37 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural
Verse 33

Original words

I have not coveted ἐπεθύμησα G1937 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular anyone’s οὐδενὸς G3762 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular silver Ἀργυρίου G694 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular or G2228 Conjunction gold χρυσίου G5553 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular or G2228 Conjunction clothing ἱματισμοῦ G2441 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 34

Original words

You yourselves αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural know γινώσκετε G1097 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction these αὗται G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Plural - αἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Plural hands [of mine] χεῖρες G5495 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural have ministered to ὑπηρέτησαν G5256 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular [own] ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural needs χρείαις G5532 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural and [those of] καὶ G2532 Conjunction my companions τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural . . . οὖσιν G1510 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural . . . μετ’ G3326 Preposition . . . ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Verse 35

Original words

In everything πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural I showed ὑπέδειξα G5263 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction by this kind οὕτως G3779 Adverb of hard work κοπιῶντας G2872 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural we must δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular help ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι G482 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural weak ἀσθενούντων G770 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural - τε G5037 Conjunction remembering μνημονεύειν G3421 Verb - Present Infinitive Active the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural words λόγων G3056 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Lord Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction Himself αὐτὸς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular It is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular more μᾶλλον G3123 Adverb blessed Μακάριόν G3107 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular to give διδόναι G1325 Verb - Present Infinitive Active than G2228 Conjunction to receive λαμβάνειν G2983 Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Verse 36

Original words

[When] Καὶ G2532 Conjunction [Paul] had said εἰπὼν G2036 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular this ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural he knelt down θεὶς G5087 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular . . . τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural . . . γόνατα G1119 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural with σὺν G4862 Preposition all πᾶσιν G3956 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural of them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural [and] prayed προσηύξατο G4336 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 37

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction They all πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural vvv ἐγένετο G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular wept κλαυθμὸς G2805 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular openly ἱκανὸς G2425 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular [as] καὶ G2532 Conjunction they embraced ἐπιπεσόντες G1968 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition . . . τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular . . . τράχηλον G5137 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular . . . τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Paul Παύλου G3972 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [and] kissed κατεφίλουν G2705 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 38

Original words

They were especially grieved ὀδυνώμενοι G3600 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . μάλιστα G3122 Adverb by ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular vvv λόγῳ G3056 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular vvv G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular his statement εἰρήκει G2046 Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction they would [never] μέλλουσιν G3195 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural see θεωρεῖν G2334 Verb - Present Infinitive Active his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular face πρόσωπον G4383 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular [again] οὐκέτι G3765 Adverb Then δὲ G1161 Conjunction they accompanied προέπεμπον G4311 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular ship πλοῖον G4143 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.