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. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 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. 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. These went on ahead and were waiting for (H)us at (I)Troas, 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

(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. There were many lamps in (M)the upper room where we were gathered. 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.

Paul Goes to Jerusalem

21 And when (CG)we had parted from them and set sail, we (CH)came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.[g] And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And (CI)through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, (CJ)accompanied us until we were outside the city. And (CK)kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted (CL)the brothers[h] and stayed with them for one day. On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of (CM)Philip (CN)the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, (CO)who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named (CP)Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he (CQ)took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, (CR)“Thus says the Holy Spirit, (CS)‘This is how the Jews[i] at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and (CT)deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there (CU)urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, (CV)“What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For (CW)I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem (CX)for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, (CY)we ceased and said, (CZ)“Let the will of the Lord be done.”

15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.

Paul Visits James

17 When we had come to Jerusalem, (DA)the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to (DB)James, and all (DC)the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, (DD)he related one by one (DE)the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his (DF)ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they (DG)glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all (DH)zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all (DI)the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, (DJ)telling them (DK)not to circumcise their children or (DL)walk according to (DM)our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men (DN)who are under a vow; 24 take these men and (DO)purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, (DP)so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, (DQ)we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled,[j] and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day (DR)he purified himself along with them and (DS)went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and (DT)the offering presented for each one of them.

Paul Arrested in the Temple

27 When (DU)the seven days were almost completed, (DV)the Jews from Asia, (DW)seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who (DX)is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and (DY)the law and (DZ)this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and (EA)has defiled (EB)this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen (EC)Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and (ED)dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 (EE)And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of (EF)the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 (EG)He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him (EH)to be bound (EI)with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 (EJ)Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into (EK)the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, (EL)“Away with him!”

Paul Speaks to the People

37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not (EM)the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out (EN)into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, (EO)“I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, (EP)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in (EQ)the Hebrew language,[k] saying:

Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:3 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 19
  2. Acts 20:15 Some manuscripts add after remaining at Trogyllium
  3. Acts 20:21 Some manuscripts omit Christ
  4. Acts 20:22 Or bound in
  5. Acts 20:28 Some manuscripts of the Lord
  6. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his Own
  7. Acts 21:1 Some manuscripts add and Myra
  8. Acts 21:7 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 17
  9. Acts 21:11 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time
  10. Acts 21:25 Some manuscripts omit and from what has been strangled
  11. Acts 21:40 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)

Through Macedonia and Greece

20 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples(A) and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.(B) He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him(C) just as he was about to sail for Syria,(D) he decided to go back through Macedonia.(E) He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus(F) and Secundus from Thessalonica,(G) Gaius(H) from Derbe, Timothy(I) also, and Tychicus(J) and Trophimus(K) from the province of Asia.(L) These men went on ahead and waited for us(M) at Troas.(N) But we sailed from Philippi(O) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,(P) where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

On the first day of the week(Q) we came together to break bread.(R) Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room(S) where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man(T) and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”(U) 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread(V) and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

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.(W) 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus(X) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,(Y) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,(Z) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.(AA)

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

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

25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom(AT) will ever see me again.(AU) 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.(AV) 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.(AW) 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock(AX) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.(AY) Be shepherds of the church of God,[a](AZ) which he bought(BA) with his own blood.[b](BB) 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves(BC) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.(BD) 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples(BE) after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years(BF) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.(BG)

32 “Now I commit you to God(BH) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance(BI) among all those who are sanctified.(BJ) 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(BK) 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.(BL) 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.(BM) 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.(BN) 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.(BO) Then they accompanied him to the ship.(BP)

On to Jerusalem

21 After we(BQ) had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,(BR) went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.(BS) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples(BT) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit(BU) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.(BV) After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

We continued our voyage from Tyre(BW) and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters(BX) and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea(BY) and stayed at the house of Philip(BZ) the evangelist,(CA) one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.(CB)

10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus(CC) came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,(CD) ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind(CE) the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”(CF)

12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die(CG) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”(CH) 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up(CI) and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”(CJ)

15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.(CK) 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea(CL) accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus(CM) and one of the early disciples.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters(CN) received us warmly.(CO) 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,(CP) and all the elders(CQ) were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles(CR) through his ministry.(CS)

20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous(CT) for the law.(CU) 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,(CV) telling them not to circumcise their children(CW) or live according to our customs.(CX) 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.(CY) 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites(CZ) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.(DA) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”(DB)

26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.(DC)

Paul Arrested

27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,(DD) 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”(DE) 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus(DF) the Ephesian(DG) in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul,(DH) they dragged him(DI) from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.(DJ)

33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound(DK) with two(DL) chains.(DM) Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another,(DN) and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(DO) 35 When Paul reached the steps,(DP) the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”(DQ)

Paul Speaks to the Crowd(DR)

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks,(DS) he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness(DT) some time ago?”(DU)

39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus(DV) in Cilicia,(DW) a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

40 After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned(DX) to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic[c]:(DY)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
  2. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son
  3. Acts 21:40 Or possibly Hebrew; also in 22:2