Single lesson
Paul Says Goodbye to the Ephesian Elders
Acts 20:17–38
In this lesson, children will hear Paul’s farewell to the elders from Ephesus and trace what he says, warns, and does. They will sequence the passage and notice Paul’s care, courage, and trust in God.
Before you teach
At Miletus, Paul sent for the elders of the assembly in Ephesus. When they came, he reminded them how he had served, taught, and testified among them. He also told them he was going to Jerusalem, warned them to watch over the flock, and prayed with them before parting.
Students will be able to put the farewell in order and name two things Paul teaches the elders to do from Acts 20:17–38.
Welcome: Who came to meet Paul?
4 minBriefly introduce the account and show where it begins. Explain that Paul calls the elders of the assembly and later speaks to them as overseers who must shepherd the flock. Ask children to listen for who Paul calls, what he remembers, what he warns about, and how the meeting ends.
Acts 20:17, Acts 20:18, Acts 20:28
Read and explain: Paul remembers his ministry
8 minRead Acts 20:17–24 aloud. Explain simple phrases as you go: Paul served the Lord humbly, taught in public and from house to house, and told both Jews and Greeks to repent toward God and have faith toward the Lord Jesus. He also says he is going to Jerusalem though troubles wait for him.
Acts 20:19, Acts 20:20, Acts 20:21, Acts 20:22, Acts 20:23, Acts 20:24
Discuss: Paul’s warning and instruction
7 minRead Acts 20:25–32. Paul says they will not see him again. He explains that he declared the whole counsel of God. Then he tells the elders to take heed to themselves and all the flock. He warns that harmful people will come, and he entrusts them to God and to the word of his grace.
Acts 20:25, Acts 20:27, Acts 20:28, Acts 20:29, Acts 20:30, Acts 20:32
Make and respond: Sequence the farewell
7 minChildren make simple sequence cards for key moments: Paul calls the elders, remembers his service, says he is going to Jerusalem, tells them to take heed, speaks about helping the weak, prays, and says goodbye. As they place the cards in order, ask them to say what Paul says and what the elders do.
Acts 20:17, Acts 20:19, Acts 20:22, Acts 20:28, Acts 20:35, Acts 20:36, Acts 20:37, Acts 20:38
Closing: Prayer, tears, and goodbye
4 minRead Acts 20:33–38 to finish the account. Point out that Paul says he did not covet riches, worked to help, taught that giving is blessed, then knelt and prayed. The elders wept because he had said they would see his face no more. End by reviewing the order together.
Acts 20:33, Acts 20:34, Acts 20:35, Acts 20:36, Acts 20:37, Acts 20:38
Questions to explore
What did Paul say he had been teaching people from house to house and publicly?
Look for the verses that say Paul declared what was profitable and testified about repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus.
Acts 20:20, Acts 20:21
What did Paul mean when he said he was clean from the blood of all men?
Use the next verse too. Paul explains it by saying he did not shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God.
Acts 20:26, Acts 20:27
Why were the elders especially sorrowful at the end?
Read the final verses closely and notice the specific word from Paul that caused the deepest sorrow.
Acts 20:37, Acts 20:38
Make, think or respond
Farewell Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- Bible
- scissors
Try it together
- Read the passage in small parts and list six or seven key moments from the account.
- Give each child paper to draw one key moment and label it with a short phrase.
- Place all the cards on the floor or table and work together to arrange them in the order of Acts 20:17–38.
- Ask children to retell the passage by pointing to each card and saying what happened next.
- Finish by asking which card shows Paul’s warning, which shows his example, and which shows the goodbye.
This activity helps children sequence the account and notice what Paul says to the elders and how the farewell ends.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare four large group cards instead of many small ones and let them choose the correct order together.
- For older or stronger readers, have them match each card to a verse number and explain why that moment matters in Paul’s speech.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “God, thank you for your word of grace. Please help us listen carefully, care for others well, and remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 20
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to himself the elders of the assembly.
18 When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,
19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;
20 how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,
21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
22 Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there;
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.
24 But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
25 “Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more.
26 Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,
27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
28 Take heed, therefore, to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.
32 Now, brothers, I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing.
34 You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me.
35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
36 When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
38 sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.