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Paul Goes to Macedonia and Greece

20 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and having exhorted them took leave of them and departed for Macedo′nia. When he had gone through these parts and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedo′nia. Sop′ater of Beroe′a, the son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalo′nians, Aristar′chus and Secun′dus; and Ga′ius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tych′icus and Troph′imus. These went on and were waiting for us at Tro′as, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Tro′as, where we stayed for seven days.

Paul’s Farewell Visit to Troas

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread,[a] Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered. And a young man named Eu′tychus was sitting in the window. He sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer; and being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and embracing him said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the lad away alive, and were not a little comforted.

The Voyage from Troas to Miletus

13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mityle′ne. 15 And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chi′os; the next day we touched at Samos; and[b] the day after that we came to Mile′tus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

17 And from Mile′tus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:

Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem

“You yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there; 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians, to feed the church of the Lord[c] which he obtained with his own blood.[d] 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me.[e] 35 In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept and embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him to the ship.

Footnotes

  1. 20.7 Celebration of the Eucharist on the Lord’s day, i.e., Saturday evening, according to the Jewish way of reckoning a day from sunset to sunset.
  2. Acts 20:15 Other ancient authorities add after remaining at Trogyllium
  3. Acts 20:28 Other ancient authorities read of God
  4. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his Own
  5. 20.34 Paul insisted on working for his living, though recognizing the apostle’s right to support by the faithful; cf. 1 Cor 9.4-7.

Journeys in Greece

20 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and (A)departed to go to Macedonia. Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to (B)Greece and stayed three months. And (C)when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also (D)Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and (E)Gaius of Derbe, and (F)Timothy, and (G)Tychicus and (H)Trophimus of Asia. These men, going ahead, waited for us at (I)Troas. But we sailed away from Philippi after (J)the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them (K)at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Ministering at Troas

Now on (L)the first day of the week, when the disciples came together (M)to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. There were many lamps (N)in the upper room where [a]they were gathered together. And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, (O)fell on him, and embracing him said, (P)“Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

From Troas to Miletus

13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had [b]given orders, intending himself to go on foot. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for (Q)he was hurrying (R)to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on (S)the Day of Pentecost.

The Ephesian Elders Exhorted

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, (T)from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me (U)by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how (V)I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 (W)testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, (X)repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now (Y)I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that (Z)the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 [c]But (AA)none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, (AB)so that I may finish my [d]race with joy, (AC)and the ministry (AD)which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am (AE)innocent[e] of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not [f]shunned to declare to you (AF)the whole counsel of God. 28 (AG)Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit (AH)has made you overseers, to shepherd the church [g]of God (AI)which He purchased (AJ)with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure (AK)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also (AL)from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking [h]perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that (AM)for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and (AN)to the word of His grace, which is able (AO)to build you up and give you (AP)an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 [i]Yes, you yourselves know (AQ)that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, (AR)by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 Then they all (AS)wept [j]freely, and (AT)fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:8 NU, M we
  2. Acts 20:13 arranged it
  3. Acts 20:24 NU But I do not count my life of any value or dear to myself
  4. Acts 20:24 course
  5. Acts 20:26 Lit. clean
  6. Acts 20:27 avoided declaring
  7. Acts 20:28 M of the Lord and God
  8. Acts 20:30 misleading
  9. Acts 20:34 NU, M omit Yes
  10. Acts 20:37 Lit. much