Historical
Paul goes into Macedonia and into Greece. At Troas he raises up a dead body. At Ephesus he calls the elders of the congregation together, commits the keeping of God’s flock to them, warns them of false teachers, makes his prayer with them, and departs by ship.
20 After the tumult was calmed, Paul called the disciples to him and took his leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia. 2 And when he had gone over those parts and given the people many exhortations, he went into Greece, 3 and was there three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him as he was about to sail into Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
4 There accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Berea, and from Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and from Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the Passover holy days, and in five days came to them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
7 And on the morrow after the Sabbath day, the disciples came together to break bread. Paul, who was ready to depart on the next day, preached to them, and continued preaching until midnight. 8 And there were many lamps in the upper chamber where they were gathered together. 9 And a certain young man named Eutychus sat in a window, falling into a deep sleep. And as Paul spoke on, he was the more overcome with sleep, and fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead. 10 Paul went down and fell on him, and embraced him and said, Don’t be troubled, for his life is in him.
11 When Paul had gone upstairs again, he broke bread and ate, and talked a long while, even till the morning, and so departed. 12 And they brought in the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
13 And we went on to the ship and set sail for Assos, there to take Paul on board. For so he had arranged, and would himself go afoot. 14 When he came to us at Assos, we took him in and went to Mitylene. 15 And we sailed from there and arrived the next day off Chios. And the next day we arrived at the island of Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we went on to Miletus, 16 for Paul had determined to pass by Ephesus as they sailed, because he did not want to spend the time in Asia. For he hastened to be (if he could possibly) at Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost. 17 And so from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the congregation.
18 And when they had come to him, he said to them, You know how, from the first day that I came to Asia, I have been with you at all seasons, 19 serving the Lord with all humbleness of mind, and with many tears and trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 and how I kept back nothing that was profitable, but have shown you and taught you openly and at home in your houses, 21 witnessing both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
22 And now behold, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will come on me there, 23 but that the Holy Spirit witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and trouble await me. 24 But none of those things move me. I do not count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now behold, I am sure that henceforth you all (among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God) shall see my face no more. 26 And so I call you as witnesses this same day, that I am clear of the blood of all men. 27 For I have kept nothing back, but have spoken to you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock whereof the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he has purchased with his blood. 29 For I am sure of this, that after my departing, grievous wolves will enter in among you, who will not spare the flock. 30 Moreover, from among your own selves men will rise up speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them. 31 Therefore awake, and remember that for the space of three years I did not cease to warn every one of you, both night and day, with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commit you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build further and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have desired no man’s silver, gold, or clothing. 34 You know well that these hands have provided for my needs and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way how, by so labouring, you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said it is more blessed to give than to receive.
36 When he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept abundantly, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all for the words that he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Paul’s journey by ship. Of Philip the evangelist, and of Agabus the prophet, who warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem. He remains steadfast in his purpose, and is taken in the temple.
21 And once we had launched forth and drawn away from them, we went with a straight course to Cos, and the day following to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And we found a ship ready to sail to Phoenicia, and went aboard and set sail. 3 Then we came in sight of Cyprus, and we passed it on the left hand and sailed to Syria. We put in at Tyre, because the ship was to unload her cargo there. 4 And when we found brethren, we stayed there seven days. And they told Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 And when the days were ended, we departed and went our ways; and they all brought us on our way, with their wives and children, till we got to the outskirts of the city. And we kneeled down on the shore and prayed. And when we had taken our leave of one another, 6 we boarded ship, and they returned home again.
7 When we had completed the voyage from Tyre, we went on to Ptolemais and greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8 The next day, we who were of Paul’s company departed and went to Caesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven deacons, and stayed with him. 9 This man had four daughters, virgins who prophesied.
10 And while we tarried there a good many days, there came a certain prophet from Judea named Agabus. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s girdle and bound his hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit: in this manner the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man that owns this girdle, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 When we heard this, both we and others of the same place besought Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered and said, What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 When we could not turn his mind, we gave up, saying, May the will of the Lord be fulfilled.
15 After those days we made ourselves ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and they brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we would lodge. 17 And when we got to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And on the morrow, Paul went in with us to James. And all the elders came together. 19 And when he had greeted them, he told in order all the things that God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord and said to him, You see, brother, how many thousand Jews there are who believe, and they are all zealous over the law. 21 And they are informed of you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, and say that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor live according to the customs. 22 What then? This group is bound to get together, because they will hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we say to you: We have four men who are under a vow. 24 Take them, and purify yourself with them, and bear their expenses so that they can shave their heads, and everyone will know that those things that they have heard concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law. 25 For concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they need observe no such things, but should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication.
26 Then the next day Paul took the men and purified himself with them, and entered into the temple, declaring that he was observing the days of purification until an offering should be offered for every one of them.
27 And as the seven days were almost ended, the Jews of Asia, when they saw Paul in the temple, moved all the people, and laid hands on him, 28 crying, Men of Israel, help! This is the man that teaches everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he has also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place. 29 (For they had seen one Trophimus, an Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed Paul had brought him into the temple.)
30 And all the city was moved, and the people swarmed together. And they took Paul and drew him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut to.
31 As they went about to kill him, a report came to the high captain of the soldiers that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the high captain and the soldiers, the people stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the captain came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and demanded who he was and what he had done. 34 And one shouted this and another that among the people. And when he could not ascertain the facts due to the tumult, the captain commanded Paul to be taken into the castle. 35 And when Paul came to a flight of stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the people. 36 For the crowd of people followed after, crying, Away with him!
37 And as Paul began to be led into the castle, he said to the high captain, May I speak to you? He said, Can you speak Greek? 38 Are you not that Egyptian who before these days caused a riot, and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
39 But Paul said, I am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. I beseech you, allow me to speak to the people.
40 When he had given him leave, Paul stood on the steps and beckoned with his hand to the people, and there was a great silence. And he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Paul answers to the Jews, is scourged, and is put in prison again.
22 Men, brethren and fathers, hear my answer, which I make to you.
2 When they heard that he spoke in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence.
And he said, 3 I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and thoroughly taught in the law of the fathers. And I was fervent-minded toward God, as you all are this same day. 4 And I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prison both men and women, 5 as the chief priest bears me witness, and all the elders – from whom also I received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring those who were there as prisoners to Jerusalem, to be punished.
6 But it came to pass, as I made my journey and had come near to Damascus about noon, that suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me. 7 And I fell to the earth and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 8 And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.
9 And those who were with me saw a light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of him who spoke with me. 10 And I said, What shall I do Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise and go into Damascus, and there it will be told you all the things that are appointed for you to do.
11 And when I could not see anything due to the brightness of the light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. 12 And one Ananias, a godly man, and as pertaining to the law having a good report among all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me. And he stood and said to me, Brother Saul, look up! And that same hour I received my sight, and could see him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers has fore-ordained you to know his will, and to see that which is rightful, and to hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For you shall be his witness to all people of those things that you have seen and heard. 16 And now, why tarry? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, in calling on the name of the Lord.
17 And it happened, when I returned again to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance, 18 and saw him saying to me, Make haste, and get quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive the witness that you bear of me.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed on you. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I also stood by and consented to his death, and minded the garments of those who slew him. 21 Then he said to me, Depart, for I will send you far from here, to the Gentiles.
22 The people listened to him until these words, and then lifted up their voices and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth! It is a pity that he should live! 23 And as they cried out and cast off their clothes and threw dust into the air, 24 the high captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, and commanded him to be scourged and examined in order to find out why the people cried out so against him. 25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and without a trial? 26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the high captain, saying, What do you intend to do? This man is a Roman.
27 Then the high captain came and said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman? He said, Yes. 28 And the captain answered, With a great sum I obtained this freedom. And Paul said, I was free born.
29 Then the soldiers who were to have examined him straightaway drew back from him. And the high captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
30 On the day following, because he wanted to know exactly what Paul was accused of by the Jews, the captain released him from his bonds, and commanded the high priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul and set him before them.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.