Léctio Actuum Apostolórum (20,17-27)
In diébus illis: A Miléto autem mittens Ephésum convocávit Paulus presbýteros ecclésiæ. Qui cum veníssent ad eum, dixit eis: “Vos scitis a prima die, qua ingréssus sum in Ásiam, quáliter vobíscum per omne tempus fúerim, sérviens Dómino cum omni humilitáte et lácrimis et tentatiónibus, quæ mihi accidérunt in insídiis Iudæórum; quómodo nihil subtráxerim utílium, quóminus annuntiárem vobis et docérem vos públice et per domos, testíficans Iudǽis atque Græcis in Deum pæniténtiam et fidem in Dóminum nostrum Iésum. Et nunc ecce alligátus ego Spíritu vado in Ierusálem, quæ in ea eventúra sint mihi ignórans, nisi quod Spíritus Sanctus per omnes civitátes protestátur mihi dicens quóniam víncula et tribulatiónes me manent. Sed níhili fácio ánimam meam pretiósam mihi, dúmmodo consúmmem cursum meum et ministérium, quod accépi a Dómino Iésu, testificári evangélium grátiæ Dei. Et nunc ecce ego scio quia ámplius non vidébitis fáciem meam vos omnes, per quos transívi prǽdicans regnum; quaprópter contéstor vos hodiérna die, quia mundus sum a sánguine ómnium; non enim subtérfugi, quóminus annuntiárem omne consílium Dei vobis.
In those days: sending from Miletum to Ephesus, he called the Ancients of the Church. Who being come to him, and assembled together, he said to them: You know from the first day that I entered into Asia, in what manner I have been with you all the time, serving our Lord with all humility and tears, and tentations that did chance to me by the conspiracies of the Jews: How I have withdrawn nothing that was profitable, but that I preached it to you, and taught you openly and from house to house, testifying to Jews and Gentiles penance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now behold, being bound by the spirit, I go to Jerusalem; not knowing what things shall befall me in it, but that the Holy Ghost throughout all cities doth protest to me, saying: that bands and tribulations abide me at Jerusalem. But I fear none of these things, neither do I make my life more precious than myself, so that I may consummate my course & ministry which I received of our Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. And now behold I do know, that you shall no more see my face all you, through whom I have passed preaching the Kingdom of God. Wherefore I take you to witness this present day that I am clear from the blood of all. For I have not spared to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
