⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”^(A)

²⁵ After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord^(A) and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.^(B)

⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people^(A) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.^(B)

⁵ When Silas^(A) and Timothy^(B) came from Macedonia,^(C) Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.^(D)

²¹ I have declared to both Jews^(A) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance^(B) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.^(C)

²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,^(D) not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me^(E) that prison and hardships are facing me.^{(F) 24} However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(G) my only aim is to finish the race^(H) and complete the task^(I) the Lord Jesus has given me^(J)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(K)

²⁵ “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom^(L) will ever see me again.^{(M) 26} Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.^{(N) 27} For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.^{(O) 28} Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(P) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(Q) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a](R) which he bought^(S) with his own blood.^{[b](T) 29} I know that after I leave, savage wolves^(U) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.^{(V) 30} Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples^(W) after them. ³¹ So be on your guard! Remember that for three years^(X) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.^(Y)

³² “Now I commit you to God^(Z) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance^(AA) among all those who are sanctified.^{(AB) 33} I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(AC) 34} You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^{(AD) 35} In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶ When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.^{(AE) 37} They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.^{(AF) 38} What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.^(AG) Then they accompanied him to the ship.^(AH)

¹¹ The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!^(A) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”^(B)

²³ They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God,^(A) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets^(B) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.^(C)

³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.^(A)

Instructions for Christian Living

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer^(A) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.^(B)