Acts 20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Paul Goes to Macedonia and Greece
20 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia.(A) 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, so he decided to return through Macedonia.(B) 4 He was accompanied[a] by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.(C) 5 They went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas, 6 but we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days.(D)
Paul’s Farewell Visit to Troas
7 On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight.(E) 8 There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were meeting. 9 A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bending over him took him in his arms and said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.”(F) 11 Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left. 12 Meanwhile they had taken the boy away alive and were not a little comforted.
The Voyage from Troas to Miletus
13 We went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there, for he had made this arrangement, intending to go by land himself. 14 When he met us in Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 We sailed from there, and on the following day we arrived opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos, and[b] the day after that we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.(G)
Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders
17 From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him.(H) 18 When they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,(I) 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20 I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house,(J) 21 as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.[c](K) 22 And now, as a captive to the Spirit,[d] I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,(L) 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.(M) 24 But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.(N)
25 “And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again.(O) 26 Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,(P) 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.(Q) 28 Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God[e] that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.[f](R) 29 I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.(S) 30 Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.(T) 32 And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.(U) 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing.(V) 34 You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions.(W) 35 In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”(X)
36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed.(Y) 37 There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,(Z) 38 grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.(AA)
Footnotes
- 20.4 Other ancient authorities add as far as Asia
- 20.15 Other ancient authorities add after remaining at Trogyllium
- 20.21 Other ancient authorities add Christ
- 20.22 Or And now, bound in the spirit
- 20.28 Other ancient authorities read of the Lord
- 20.28 Or with his own blood; Gk with the blood of his Own
Acts 20
English Standard Version
Paul in Macedonia and Greece
20 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and (A)departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and when (B)a plot was made against him by the Jews[a] as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, (C)Aristarchus and Secundus; and (D)Gaius of Derbe, and (E)Timothy; and the Asians, (F)Tychicus and (G)Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for (H)us at (I)Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after (J)the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
Eutychus Raised from the Dead
7 (K)On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together (L)to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in (M)the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he (N)fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and (O)bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, (P)“Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and (Q)had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
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 went to Mitylene. 15 And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and[b] the day after that we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening (R)to be at Jerusalem, if possible, (S)on the day of Pentecost.
Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called (T)the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:
(U)“You yourselves know (V)how I lived among you the whole time (W)from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 (X)serving the Lord (Y)with all humility and with (Z)tears and with trials that happened to me through (AA)the plots of the Jews; 20 how I (AB)did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and (AC)teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 (AD)testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of (AE)repentance toward God and of (AF)faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.[c] 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained (AG)by[d] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that (AH)the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that (AI)imprisonment and (AJ)afflictions await me. 24 But (AK)I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only (AL)I may finish my course and (AM)the ministry (AN)that I received from the Lord Jesus, (AO)to testify to (AP)the gospel of (AQ)the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, (AR)I know that none of you among whom I have gone about (AS)proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore (AT)I testify to you this day that (AU)I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for (AV)I did not shrink from declaring to you (AW)the whole counsel of God. 28 (AX)Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all (AY)the flock, in which (AZ)the Holy Spirit has made you (BA)overseers, (BB)to care for (BC)the church of God,[e] which he (BD)obtained (BE)with his own blood.[f] 29 I (BF)know that after my departure (BG)fierce wolves will come in among you, (BH)not sparing the flock; 30 and (BI)from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore (BJ)be alert, remembering that (BK)for three years I did not cease night or day (BL)to admonish every one (BM)with tears. 32 And now (BN)I commend you to God and to (BO)the word of his grace, which is able to (BP)build you up and to give you (BQ)the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 (BR)I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 (BS)You yourselves know that (BT)these hands ministered to my necessities and (BU)to those who were with me. 35 In all things (BV)I have shown you that (BW)by working hard in this way we must (BX)help the weak and (BY)remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed (BZ)to give than to receive.’”
36 And when he had said these things, (CA)he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And (CB)there was much weeping on the part of all; (CC)they embraced Paul and (CD)kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of (CE)the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And (CF)they accompanied him to the ship.
Footnotes
- Acts 20:3 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 19
- Acts 20:15 Some manuscripts add after remaining at Trogyllium
- Acts 20:21 Some manuscripts omit Christ
- Acts 20:22 Or bound in
- Acts 20:28 Some manuscripts of the Lord
- Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his Own
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
