Acts 20:26-30

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

²⁶ Therefore _h I testify to you this day that _i I am innocent of the blood of all of you, ²⁷ for _j I did not shrink from declaring to you _k the whole counsel of God. ²⁸ _l Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all _m the flock, in which _n the Holy Spirit has made you _o overseers, _p to care for _q the church of God, ₁ which he _r obtained _s with his own blood. ₂ ²⁹ I _r know that after my departure _t fierce wolves will come in among you, _u not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and _v from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

1. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 8:19
   And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.
   
2. Cross References
   Acts 18:6
   And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.
   
3. Cross References
   Acts 20:20
   How I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house.
   Jeremiah 26:2
   Thus says the Lord : Stand in the court of the Lord 's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.
   Ezekiel 33:8
   If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
   
4. Cross References
   Acts 13:36
   For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption.
   Luke 7:30
   But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
   Acts 2:23
   This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
   Ephesians 1:11
   In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
   Hebrews 6:17
   So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath.
   
5. Cross References
   1 Timothy 4:16
   Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
   
6. Cross References
   Acts 20:29
   I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
   Ephesians 4:11
   And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers.
   Luke 12:32
   Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
   
7. Cross References
   Acts 13:2
   While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
   1 Corinthians 12:8 - 11
   For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit.
   
8. Cross References
   Philippians 1:1
   Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
   1 Timothy 3:2
   Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.
   Titus 1:7
   For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain.
   Acts 20:17
   Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
   
9. Cross References
   John 21:16
   He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep.
   
10. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 1:2
    To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
    1 Corinthians 10:32
    Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God.
    1 Corinthians 11:16
    If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
    1 Corinthians 15:9
    For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
    
11. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:1
    But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
    
12. Cross References
    Hebrews 9:12
    He entered once for all into the holy places, n...
    Hebrews 9:14
    How much more will the blood of Christ, who thr...
    Ephesians 1:7
    In him we have redemption through his blood, th...
    1 John 1:7
    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the li...
    1 Peter 1:18 - 19
    Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ...
    Revelation 5:9
    And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are y...
    
13. Cross References
    Acts 20:28
    Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
    
14. Cross References
    Matthew 7:15
    Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
    
15. Cross References
    John 10:12
    He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
    Colossians 2:8
    See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
    
16. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 11:19
    For there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
    2 Corinthians 11:13
    For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
    1 Timothy 1:19 - 20
    Holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith.
    1 John 2:18 - 19
    Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.