New Testament · Acts

Acts 20

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

1After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia. 2When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. 3And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

4And he was accompanied as far as Asia by Sopater of Beroea, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. 6We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Revived at Troas

(2 Kings 4:18–37)

7In yet the one of the sabbatons, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his word^b until midnight.^a

8There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. 9And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. 10But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, "Do not be troubled, for his soul^c is in him."

11When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. 12They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.

From Troas to Miletus

13But 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 by land. 14And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15Sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day following we came to Miletus.

16For Paul had decided^d to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.^e

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesians

17From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the ekklesia.^f

18And when they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with many tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance^g toward God and faith in our Lord Yeshua.

22And now, behold, bound in the spirit^h, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that the holyⁱ spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24But I make account of none of these things, nor do I hold my soul as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Yeshua, to testify solemnly of the good news of the grace^j of God.

25And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom of God, will no longer see my face. 26Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.

28Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the holy spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the ekklesia of the Lord and God, which He purchased with His own blood. 29I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

32And now, brothers, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

33I have coveted no one's silver or gold or garments. 34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. 35In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Yeshua, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

36When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 38grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again; and they were accompanying him to the ship.