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13 But going on ahead to the ship, the rest of us set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for that was what he had directed, intending himself to go by land [on foot].

14 So when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and sailed on to Mitylene.

15 And sailing from there, we arrived the day after at a point opposite Chios; the following day we struck across to Samos, and the next day we arrived at Miletus.

16 For Paul had determined to sail on past Ephesus, lest he might have to spend time [unnecessarily] in [the province of] Asia; for he was hastening on so that he might reach Jerusalem, if at all possible, by the day of Pentecost.

17 However, from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church [to come to him there].

18 And when they arrived he said to them: You yourselves are well acquainted with my manner of living among you from the first day that I set foot in [the province of] Asia, and how I continued afterward,

19 Serving the Lord with all humility in tears and in the midst of adversity (affliction and trials) which befell me, due to the plots of the Jews [against me];

20 How I did not shrink from telling you anything that was for your benefit and teaching you in public meetings and from house to house,

21 But constantly and earnestly I bore testimony both to Jews and Greeks, urging them to turn in repentance [[a]that is due] to God and to have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ [[b]that is due Him].

22 And now, you see, I am going to Jerusalem, bound by the [Holy] Spirit and obligated and compelled by the [convictions of my own] spirit, not knowing what will befall me there—

23 Except that the Holy Spirit clearly and emphatically affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me.

24 But none of these things move me; neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God’s grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy).

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:21 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  2. Acts 20:21 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.(A) 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus(B) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,(C) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,(D) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.(E)

17 From Miletus,(F) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders(G) of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,(H) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.(I) 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears(J) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.(K) 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything(L) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews(M) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance(N) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.(O)

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,(P) not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me(Q) that prison and hardships are facing me.(R) 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;(S) my only aim is to finish the race(T) and complete the task(U) the Lord Jesus has given me(V)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.(W)

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Psalm 33

Rejoice in the Lord, O you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you upright in right standing with God]; for praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart].

Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with the harp of ten strings.

Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully [on the strings] with a loud and joyful sound.

For the word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness.

He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all their host by the breath of His mouth.(A)

He gathers the waters of the sea as in a bottle; He puts the deeps in storage places.

Let all the earth fear the Lord [revere and worship Him]; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nought; He makes the thoughts and plans of the peoples of no effect.

11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart through all generations.

12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His heritage.

13 The Lord looks from heaven, He beholds all the sons of men;

14 From His dwelling place He looks [intently] upon all the inhabitants of the earth—

15 He Who fashions the hearts of them all, Who considers all their doings.

16 No king is saved by the great size and power of his army; a mighty man is not delivered by [his] much strength.

17 A horse is devoid of value for victory; neither does he deliver any by his great power.

18 Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness,

19 To deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield.

21 For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name.

22 Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.

Psalm 34

[A Psalm] of David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him out, and he went away.

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.

I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.(B)

They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never blush for shame or be confused.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

[a]The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers.(C)

O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.(D)

O fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear.

10 The young lions lack food and suffer hunger, but they who seek (inquire of and require) the Lord [by right of their need and on the authority of His Word], none of them shall lack any beneficial thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you to revere and worshipfully fear the Lord.

12 What man is he who desires life and longs for many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the [uncompromisingly] righteous and His ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.(E)

17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles.

18 The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.

19 Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall cause the death of the wicked; and they who hate the just and righteous shall be held guilty and shall be condemned.

22 The Lord redeems the lives of His servants, and none of those who take refuge and trust in Him shall be condemned or held guilty.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:7 See footnote on Gen. 16:7.

Psalm 33

Sing joyfully(A) to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting(B) for the upright(C) to praise him.
Praise the Lord with the harp;(D)
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.(E)
Sing to him a new song;(F)
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.(G)

For the word of the Lord is right(H) and true;(I)
    he is faithful(J) in all he does.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;(K)
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.(L)

By the word(M) of the Lord the heavens were made,(N)
    their starry host(O) by the breath of his mouth.
He gathers the waters(P) of the sea into jars[a];(Q)
    he puts the deep into storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;(R)
    let all the people of the world(S) revere him.(T)
For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded,(U) and it stood firm.

10 The Lord foils(V) the plans(W) of the nations;(X)
    he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm(Y) forever,
    the purposes(Z) of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,(AA)
    the people he chose(AB) for his inheritance.(AC)
13 From heaven the Lord looks down(AD)
    and sees all mankind;(AE)
14 from his dwelling place(AF) he watches
    all who live on earth—
15 he who forms(AG) the hearts of all,
    who considers everything they do.(AH)

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;(AI)
    no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse(AJ) is a vain hope for deliverance;
    despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes(AK) of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,(AL)
19 to deliver them from death(AM)
    and keep them alive in famine.(AN)

20 We wait(AO) in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,(AP)
    for we trust in his holy name.(AQ)
22 May your unfailing love(AR) be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 34[b][c]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane(AS) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

I will extol the Lord at all times;(AT)
    his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory(AU) in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(AV)
Glorify the Lord(AW) with me;
    let us exalt(AX) his name together.

I sought the Lord,(AY) and he answered me;
    he delivered(AZ) me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;(BA)
    their faces are never covered with shame.(BB)
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.(BC)
The angel of the Lord(BD) encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers(BE) them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;(BF)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge(BG) in him.
Fear the Lord,(BH) you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.(BI)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(BJ)
11 Come, my children, listen(BK) to me;
    I will teach you(BL) the fear of the Lord.(BM)
12 Whoever of you loves life(BN)
    and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(BO) from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.(BP)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(BQ)
    seek peace(BR) and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord(BS) are on the righteous,(BT)
    and his ears are attentive(BU) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(BV) those who do evil,(BW)
    to blot out their name(BX) from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(BY) them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(BZ) to the brokenhearted(CA)
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(CB)
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;(CC)
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.(CD)

21 Evil will slay the wicked;(CE)
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(CF) his servants;
    no one who takes refuge(CG) in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 33:7 Or sea as into a heap
  2. Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  3. Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.