And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Parallel translations
- WEB From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly.
- BSB From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
- NKJV From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
- NASB From Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and called to himself the elders of the church.
- NLT But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
From Miletus Paul summons the Ephesian elders to meet him. He arranges a final, heartfelt farewell to the church's leaders.
Overview
Unable to visit Ephesus himself, Paul calls its elders to come to him at Miletus for what becomes one of Scripture's most moving pastoral addresses. The term "elders" (presbyteroi), used interchangeably with "overseers" in verse 28, illustrates the leadership structure of the early church. Paul's care for these shepherds reflects Christ's care for His flock through faithful undershepherds.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Acts 11:30Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
- 1 Tim 5:17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
- Titus 1:5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
- Acts 14:23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
- Acts 20:28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
- Jas 5:14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
- Acts 15:23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
- 1 Pet 5:1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
- 3 Jn 1:1The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
- Acts 16:4And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
- 2 Jn 1:1The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
- Acts 15:6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
- Acts 15:4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
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Original language
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