Acts 20
20
Paul Travels Through Macedonia and Greece
1All the trouble came to an end. Then Paul sent for the believers. After encouraging them, he said goodbye. He then left for Macedonia. 2He traveled through that area, speaking many words of hope to the people. Finally he arrived in Greece. 3There he stayed for three months. He was just about to sail for Syria. But some Jews were making plans against him. So he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4Sopater, son of Pyrrhus, from Berea went with him. Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, and Timothy went too. Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia Minor also went with him. 5These men went on ahead. They waited for us at Troas. 6But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Five days later we joined the others at Troas. We stayed there for seven days.
Eutychus Is Raised From the Dead at Troas
7On the first day of the week we met to break bread and eat together. Paul spoke to the people. He kept on talking until midnight because he planned to leave the next day. 8There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were meeting. 9A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window. He sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. Sound asleep, Eutychus fell from the third floor. When they picked him up from the ground, he was dead. 10Paul went down and threw himself on the young man. He put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “He’s alive!” 11Then Paul went upstairs again. He broke bread and ate with them. He kept on talking until daylight. Then he left. 12The people took the young man home. They were greatly comforted because he was alive.
Paul Says Goodbye to the Ephesian Elders
13We went on ahead to the ship. We sailed for Assos. There we were going to take Paul on board. He had planned it this way because he wanted to go to Assos by land. 14So he met us there. We took him on board and went on to Mitylene. 15The next day we sailed from there. We arrived near Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos. We arrived at Miletus the next day. 16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus. He didn’t want to spend time in Asia Minor. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem. If he could, he wanted to be there by the day of Pentecost.
17From Miletus, Paul sent for the elders of the church at Ephesus. 18When they arrived, he spoke to them. “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,” he said. “From the first day I came into Asia Minor, 19I served the Lord with tears and without pride. I served him when I was greatly tested. I was tested by the evil plans of the Jews who disagreed with me. 20You know that nothing has kept me from preaching whatever would help you. I have taught you in public and from house to house. 21I have told both Jews and Greeks that they must turn away from their sins to God. They must have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22“Now I am going to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit compels me. I don’t know what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Spirit warns me. He tells me that I will face prison and suffering. 24But my life means nothing to me. My only goal is to finish the race. I want to complete the work the Lord Jesus has given me. He wants me to tell others about the good news of God’s grace.
25“I have spent time with you preaching about the kingdom. I know that none of you will ever see me again. 26So I tell you today that I am not guilty if any of you don’t believe. 27I haven’t let anyone keep me from telling you everything God wants you to do. 28Keep watch over yourselves. Keep watch over all the believers. The Holy Spirit has made you leaders over them. Be shepherds of God’s church. He bought it with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, wild wolves will come in among you. They won’t spare any of the sheep. 30Even men from your own people will rise up and twist the truth. They want to get the believers to follow them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning you. Night and day I warned each of you with tears.
32“Now I trust God to take care of you. I commit you to the message about his grace. It can build you up. Then you will share in what God plans to give all his people. 33I haven’t longed for anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that I have used my own hands to meet my needs. I have also met the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that we must work hard and help the weak. We must remember the words of the Lord Jesus. He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
36Paul finished speaking. Then he got down on his knees with all of them and prayed. 37They all wept as they hugged and kissed him. 38Paul had said that they would never see him again. That’s what hurt them the most. Then they went with him to the ship.
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Acts 20: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Acts 20
20
Journeys in Greece
1After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and #1 Cor. 16:5; 1 Tim. 1:3departed to go to Macedonia. 2Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to #Acts 17:15; 18:1Greece 3and stayed three months. And #Acts 9:23; 23:12; 25:3; 2 Cor. 11:26when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also #Acts 19:29; Col. 4:10Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and #Acts 19:29Gaius of Derbe, and #Acts 16:1Timothy, and #Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:12; Titus 3:12Tychicus and #Acts 21:29; 2 Tim. 4:20Trophimus of Asia. 5These men, going ahead, waited for us at #2 Cor. 2:12; 2 Tim. 4:13Troas. 6But we sailed away from Philippi after #Ex. 12:14, 15the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them #Acts 16:8; 2 Cor. 2:12; 2 Tim. 4:13at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Ministering at Troas
7Now on #1 Cor. 16:2; Rev. 1:10the first day of the week, when the disciples came together #Acts 2:42, 46; 20:11; 1 Cor. 10:16to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 8There were many lamps #Acts 1:13in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10But Paul went down, #1 Kin. 17:21; 2 Kin. 4:34fell on him, and embracing him said, #Matt. 9:23, 24; Mark 5:39“Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
From Troas to Miletus
13Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. 14And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for #Acts 18:21; 19:21; 21:4he was hurrying #Acts 24:17to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on #Acts 2:1; 1 Cor. 16:8the Day of Pentecost.
The Ephesian Elders Exhorted
17From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, #Acts 18:19; 19:1, 10; 20:4, 16from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me #Acts 20:3by the plotting of the Jews; 20how #Acts 20:27I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21#Acts 18:5; 19:10testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, #Mark 1:15repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And see, now #Acts 19:21I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23except that #Acts 21:4, 11the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24But #Acts 21:13none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, #Acts 13:25; 2 Tim. 4:7so that I may finish my race with joy, #Acts 1:17and the ministry #Gal. 1:1which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25“And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am #Acts 18:6; 2 Cor. 7:2innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not shunned to declare to you #Luke 7:30; John 15:15; Eph. 1:11the whole counsel of God. 28#Luke 12:32; John 21:15–17; Acts 20:29; (1 Tim. 4:16); 1 Pet. 5:2Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit #1 Cor. 12:28has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God #Eph. 1:7, 14; Col. 1:14; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:12; (1 Pet. 1:19); Rev. 5:9which He purchased #Heb. 9:14with His own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departure #Ezek. 22:27; Matt. 7:15savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also #1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 1:15from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31Therefore watch, and remember that #Acts 19:8, 10; 24:17for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and #Heb. 13:9to the word of His grace, which is able #Acts 9:31to build you up and give you #Acts 26:18; Eph. 1:14, 18; 5:5; Col. 1:12; 3:24; (Heb. 9:15; 1 Pet. 1:4)an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34Yes, you yourselves know #Acts 18:3; 1 Cor. 4:12; 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35I have shown you in every way, #Rom. 15:1; 1 Cor. 9:12; 2 Cor. 11:9, 12; Eph. 4:28; 1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:8by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
36And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37Then they all #Acts 21:13wept freely, and #Gen. 45:14fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.