²³ When they had appointed elders^(A) in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

² But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, the church arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy.^(A)

⁴ As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for them to observe.^(A)

Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders

¹⁷ Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

¹⁸ The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.^(A)

Honoring the Elders

¹⁷ The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium,^[a] especially those who work hard^(A) at preaching and teaching.

¹⁹ Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.^(A)

¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord.^(A)

Greeting

The Elder:^[a]

To the elect^(A) lady^[b] and her children: I love all of you in the truth—and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth^(B)— ² because of the truth that remains in us^(C) and will be with us forever.

³ Grace, mercy, and peace^(D) will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son^(E) of the Father, in truth and love.^(F)

Truth and Deception

⁴ I was very glad to find some of your children walking in the truth,^(G) in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. ⁵ So now I urge you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.^{(H) 6} And this is love:^(I) that we walk according to His commands.^(J) This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.^[c]

⁷ Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.^[d](K) This is the deceiver and the antichrist.^{(L) 8} Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we^[e] have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.^{(M) 9} Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching^(N) but goes beyond it, does not have God.^(O) The one who remains^(P) in that teaching, this one has both the Father^(Q) and the Son.^{(R) 10} If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive^(S) him into your home, and don’t say, “Welcome,” to him; ¹¹ for the one who says, “Welcome,” to him shares^(T) in his evil works.^(U)

Farewell

¹² Though I have many things to write to you,^(V) I don’t want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face^[f] so that our joy^(W) may be complete.

¹³ The children of your elect sister send you greetings.