The Early Church

save that the Holy Spirit in every city doth testify fully, saying, that for me bonds and tribulations remain;

but I make account of none of these, neither do I count my life precious to myself, so that I finish my course with joy, and the ministration that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify fully the good news of the grace of God.

`And now, lo, I have known that no more shall ye see my face, --ye all among whom I did go preaching the reign of God;

wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I am clear from the blood of all,

for I did not keep back from declaring to you all the counsel of God.

`Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the assembly of God that He acquired through His own blood,

for I have known this, that there shall enter in, after my departing, grievous wolves unto you, not sparing the flock,

and of your own selves there shall arise men, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

`Therefore, watch, remembering that three years, night and day, I did not cease with tears warning each one;

and now, I commend you, brethren, to God, and to the word of His grace, that is able to build up, and to give you an inheritance among all those sanctified.

`The silver or gold or garments of no one did I covet;

and ye yourselves know that to my necessities, and to those who were with me, minister did these hands;

all things I did shew you, that, thus labouring, it behoveth us to partake with the ailing, to be mindful also of the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

And these things having said, having bowed his knees, with them all, he did pray,

and there came a great weeping to all, and having fallen upon the neck of Paul, they were kissing him,

sorrowing most of all for the word that he had said--that they are about no more to see his face; and they were accompanying him to the ship.

And it came to pass, at our sailing, having been parted from them, having run direct, we came to Coos, and the succeeding day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara,

and having found a ship passing over to Phenicia, having gone on board, we sailed,

and having discovered Cyprus, and having left it on the left, we were sailing to Syria, and did land at Tyre, for there was the ship discharging the lading.

And having found out the disciples, we tarried there seven days, and they said to Paul, through the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem;

but when it came that we completed the days, having gone forth, we went on, all bringing us on the way, with women and children, unto the outside of the city, and having bowed the knees upon the shore, we prayed,

and having embraced one another, we embarked in the ship, and they returned to their own friends.

And we, having finished the course, from Tyre came down to Ptolemais, and having saluted the brethren, we remained one day with them;

and on the morrow Paul and his company having gone forth, we came to Caesarea, and having entered into the house of Philip the evangelist--who is of the seven--we remained with him,

and this one had four daughters, virgins, prophesying.