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Through Macedonia and Greece

20 Now after the uproar had ceased, Paul having summoned and exhorted (A)the disciples, said farewell and left (B)to go to (C)Macedonia. And when he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. And there he spent three months, and when (D)a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for (E)Syria, he decided to return through (F)Macedonia. And he was accompanied by Sopater of (G)Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by (H)Aristarchus and Secundus of the (I)Thessalonians, and (J)Gaius of (K)Derbe, and (L)Timothy, and (M)Tychicus and (N)Trophimus of [a](O)Asia. But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for (P)us at (Q)Troas. (R)And we sailed from (S)Philippi after (T)the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at (U)Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised from the Dead in Troas

And on (V)the first day of the week, when (W)we were gathered together to (X)break bread, Paul began speaking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his [b]message until midnight. Now there were many (Y)lamps in the (Z)upper room where we were gathered together. And there was a young man named [c]Eutychus sitting on the windowsill, sinking into a deep sleep. And as Paul kept on talking, he sunk into that sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down and (AA)fell upon him, and after embracing him, he (AB)said, “[d]Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” 11 And when he had gone back up and had (AC)broken the bread and [e]eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. 12 And they took away the boy alive, and were not a little comforted.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

13 But (AD)we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go [f]by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 And sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos; and the day following we came to (AE)Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past (AF)Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in [g](AG)Asia; for he was hurrying (AH)to be in Jerusalem, if possible, (AI)on the day of Pentecost.

17 Now from Miletus he sent to (AJ)Ephesus and called to him (AK)the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them,

“You yourselves know, (AL)from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me [h]through (AM)the plots of the Jews; 20 how I (AN)did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and [i]from house to house, 21 solemnly (AO)testifying to both Jews and Greeks about (AP)repentance toward God and (AQ)faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, bound by the [j]Spirit, (AR)I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that (AS)the Holy Spirit solemnly (AT)testifies to me in every city, saying that (AU)chains and afflictions await me. 24 But (AV)I do not make my life of any account nor dear to myself, so that I may (AW)finish my course and (AX)the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to (AY)testify solemnly of the gospel of (AZ)the grace of God.

25 “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about (BA)preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26 Therefore, I [k]testify to you this day that (BB)I am [l]innocent of the blood of all. 27 For I (BC)did not shrink from declaring to you the whole (BD)purpose of God. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all (BE)the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you [m]overseers, to shepherd (BF)the church of God which (BG)He [n]purchased [o]with His own blood. 29 I know that after my departure (BH)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing (BI)the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away (BJ)the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be watchful, remembering that night and day for a period of (BK)three years I did not cease to admonish each one (BL)with tears. 32 And now I (BM)commend you to God and to (BN)the word of His grace, which is able to (BO)build you up and to give you (BP)the inheritance among all those who have been sanctified. 33 (BQ)I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34 You yourselves know that (BR)these hands ministered to my own needs and to those (BS)who were with me. 35 In everything I showed you that by laboring in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

36 And when he had said these things, he (BT)knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And [p]they began to weep aloud and (BU)falling on Paul’s neck, they were kissing him, 38 being in agony especially over (BV)the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were (BW)accompanying him to the ship.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:4 West coast province of Asia Minor
  2. Acts 20:7 Lit word, speech
  3. Acts 20:9 Eutychus means good fortune; ‘lucky’
  4. Acts 20:10 Or Stop being troubled
  5. Acts 20:11 Lit tasted
  6. Acts 20:13 Or on foot
  7. Acts 20:16 West coast province of Asia Minor
  8. Acts 20:19 Lit by
  9. Acts 20:20 Or in the various private homes
  10. Acts 20:22 Or in spirit
  11. Acts 20:26 Or call you to witness
  12. Acts 20:26 Lit pure from
  13. Acts 20:28 Or bishops
  14. Acts 20:28 Lit acquired
  15. Acts 20:28 Lit through
  16. Acts 20:37 Lit a considerable weeping of all occurred

Paul visits Macedonia and Greece

20 When the riot was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, said good-bye, and left for the province of Macedonia. He traveled through that region with a message of encouragement. When he came to Greece, he stayed for three months. Because the Jews hatched a plot against Paul as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided instead to return through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater, Pyrrhus’ son from Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. They went on ahead and waited for us in Troas. We sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread and met them five days later in Troas, where we stayed for a week.

Meeting with believers in Troas

On the first day of the week, as we gathered together for a meal, Paul was holding a discussion with them. Since he was leaving the next day, he continued talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we had gathered. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window. He was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third floor and died. 10 Paul went down, fell on him and embraced him, then said, “Don’t be alarmed. He’s alive!” 11 Then Paul went back upstairs and ate. He talked for a long time—right up until daybreak—then he left. 12 They took the young man away alive, and they were greatly comforted.

Farewell to the Ephesian leaders

13 We went on to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we intended to take Paul on board. Paul had arranged this, since he intended to make his way there by land. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we sailed from there and arrived opposite Chios. On the day after, we sailed to Samos, and on the following day we came to Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he wouldn’t need to spend too much time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by Pentecost Day.

17 From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus calling for the church’s elders to meet him. 18 When they arrived, he said to them, “You know how I lived among you the whole time I was with you, beginning with the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears in the midst of trials that came upon me because of the Jews’ schemes. 20 You know I held back nothing that would be helpful so that I could proclaim to you and teach you both publicly and privately in your homes. 21 You know I have testified to both Jews and Greeks that they must change their hearts and lives as they turn to God and have faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 Now, compelled by the Spirit, I’m going to Jerusalem. I don’t know what will happen to me there. 23 What I do know is that the Holy Spirit testifies to me from city to city that prisons and troubles await me. 24 But nothing, not even my life, is more important than my completing my mission. This is nothing other than the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus: to testify about the good news of God’s grace.

25 “I know that none of you will see me again—you among whom I traveled and proclaimed the kingdom. 26 Therefore, today I testify to you that I’m not responsible for anyone’s fate. 27 I haven’t avoided proclaiming the entire plan of God to you. 28 Watch yourselves and the whole flock, in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as supervisors, to shepherd God’s church, which he obtained with the death of his own Son.[a] 29 I know that, after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and won’t spare the flock. 30 Some of your own people will distort the word in order to lure followers after them. 31 Stay alert! Remember that for three years I constantly and tearfully warned each one of you. I never stopped warning you! 32 Now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all whom God has made holy. 33 I haven’t craved anyone’s silver, gold, or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that I have provided for my own needs and for those of my companions with my own hands. 35 In everything I have shown you that, by working hard, we must help the weak. In this way we remember the Lord Jesus’ words: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 After he said these things, he knelt down with all of them to pray. 37 They cried uncontrollably as everyone embraced and kissed Paul. 38 They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see him again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:28 Or with the death of his own, or with his own death