Léctio Actuum Apostolórum (20,28-38)
In diébus illis: Dicebat Paulus presbyteris Ecclesiæ Ephesiorum: Atténdite vobis et univérso gregi, in quo vos Spíritus Sanctus pósuit epíscopos, páscere ecclésiam Dei, quam acquisívit sánguine suo. Ego scio quóniam intrábunt post discessiónem meam lupi graves in vos non parcéntes gregi; et ex vobis ipsis exsúrgent viri loquéntes pervérsa, ut ábstrahant discípulos post se. Propter quod vigiláte, memória retinéntes quóniam per triénnium nocte et die non cessávi cum lácrimis monens unumquémque vestrum. Et nunc comméndo vos Deo et verbo grátiæ ipsíus, qui potens est ædificáre et dare hereditátem in sanctificátis ómnibus. Argéntum aut aurum aut vestem nullíus concupívi; ipsi scitis quóniam ad ea, quæ mihi opus erant et his, qui mecum sunt, ministravérunt manus istæ. Ómnia osténdi vobis quóniam sic laborántes opórtet suscípere infírmos, ac meminísse verbórum Dómini Iésu, quóniam ipse dixit: ‘Beátius est magis dare quam accípere!’” Et cum hæc dixísset, pósitis génibus suis, cum ómnibus illis orávit. Magnus autem fletus factus est ómnium; et procumbéntes super collum Pauli osculabántur eum doléntes máxime in verbo, quod díxerat, quóniam ámplius fáciem eíus non essent visúri. Et deducébant eum ad navem.
In those days, Paul said to the elders of the Church in Ephesus: Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood. I know that after my departure there will ravening wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And out of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away Disciples after themselves. For the which cause be vigilant, keeping in memory that for three years night & day I ceased not with tears to admonish every one of you. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, who is able to edify, and to give inheritance in all the sanctified. No man's silver and gold or garment have I coveted. Yourselves know that for such things as were needful for me and them that are with me, these hands have ministered. I have shewed you all things, that so labouring, you must receive the weak, and remember the word of our Lord Jesus, because he said: It is a more blessed thing to give rather than to take. And when he had said these things, falling on his knees he prayed with all them. And there was great weeping made of all; and falling upon the neck of Paul, they kissed him, being sorry most of all for the word which he had said, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him going unto the ship.
