Acts 20:28-38
28 Pay attention to yourselves+ and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers,+ to shepherd the congregation of God,+ which he purchased with the blood of his own Son.+ 29 I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you+ and will not treat the flock with tenderness, 30 and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.+
31 “Therefore keep awake, and bear in mind that for three years,+ night and day, I never stopped admonishing each one of you with tears. 32 And now I entrust you to God and to the word of his undeserved kindness, which word can build you up and give you the inheritance among all the sanctified ones.+ 33 I have desired no man’s silver or gold or clothing.+ 34 You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my own needs+ and the needs of those with me. 35 I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way,+ you must assist those who are weak and must keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said: ‘There is more happiness in giving+ than there is in receiving.’”
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 Indeed, quite a bit of weeping broke out among them all, and they embraced Paul* and affectionately* kissed him, 38 for they were especially pained at the word he had spoken that they would not see his face anymore.+ Then they accompanied him to the ship.
Psalms 68:29-30, 33-35, 35-36
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem,+
Kings will bring gifts to you.+
30 Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds,
The assembly of bulls+ and their calves,
Until the peoples bow down bringing* pieces of silver.
But he scatters the peoples who delight in war.
33 To the one who rides the ancient heaven of heavens.+
Look! He thunders with his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Acknowledge God’s strength.+
His majesty is over Israel,
And his strength is in the skies.*
35 God is awe-inspiring from his* grand sanctuary.+
He is the God of Israel,
Who gives strength and power to the people.+
Praise to God.
John 17:11-19
11 “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world,+ and I am coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them+ on account of your own name, which you have given me, so that they may be one* just as we are one.+ 12 When I was with them, I used to watch over them+ on account of your own name, which you have given me; and I have protected them, and not one of them is destroyed+ except the son of destruction,+ so that the scripture might be fulfilled.+ 13 But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.+ 14 I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world,+ just as I am no part of the world.
15 “I do not request that you take them out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one.+ 16 They are no part of the world,+ just as I am no part of the world.+ 17 Sanctify them by means of the truth;+ your word is truth.+ 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I also sent them into the world.+ 19 And I am sanctifying myself in their behalf, so that they also may be sanctified by means of truth.
