Acts 20
20
To Macedonia and Achaia
1After the uproar died down, Paul called together the believers and with words of encouragement said goodbye to them. Then he left and went on to Macedonia. 2He went through those regions and encouraged the people with many messages. Then he came to Achaia, 3where he stayed three months. He was getting ready to go to Syria when he discovered that there were Jews plotting against him; so he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4Sopater son of Pyrrhus, from Berea, went with him; so did Aristarchus and Secundus, from Thessalonica; Gaius, from Derbe; Tychicus and Trophimus, from the province of Asia; and Timothy. 5They went ahead and waited for us in Troas. 6We sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later we joined them in Troas, where we spent a week.
Paul's Last Visit to Troas
7On Saturday#20.7 Saturday; or Sunday. evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day. 8Many lamps were burning in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9A young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window, and as Paul kept on talking, Eutychus got sleepier and sleepier, until he finally went sound asleep and fell from the third storey to the ground. When they picked him up, he was dead. 10But Paul went down and threw himself on him and hugged him. “Don't worry,” he said, “he is still alive!” 11Then he went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. After talking with them for a long time, even until sunrise, Paul left. 12They took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
From Troas to Miletus
13We went on ahead to the ship and sailed off to Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had told us to do this, because he was going there by land. 14When he met us in Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15We sailed from there and arrived off Chios the next day. A day later we came to Samos, and the following day we reached Miletus. 16Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, so as not to lose any time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to arrive in Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost, if at all possible.
Paul's Farewell Speech to the Elders of Ephesus
17From Miletus Paul sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him. 18When they arrived, he said to them, “You know how I spent the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. 19With all humility and many tears I did my work as the Lord's servant during the hard times that came to me because of the plots of some Jews. 20You know that I did not hold back anything that would be of help to you as I preached and taught in public and in your homes. 21To Jews and Gentiles alike I gave solemn warning that they should turn from their sins to God and believe in our Lord Jesus. 22And now, in obedience to the Holy Spirit I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit has warned me that prison and troubles wait for me. 24#2 Tim 4.7But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me; I only want to complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the Good News about the grace of God.
25“I have gone about among all of you, preaching the Kingdom of God. And now I know that none of you will ever see me again. 26So I solemnly declare to you this very day: if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible. 27For I have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God. 28So keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds of the church of God,#20.28 God; some manuscripts have the Lord. which he made his own through the blood of his Son.#20.28 through the blood of his Son; or through the sacrificial death of his Son; or through his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, fierce wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. 30The time will come when some men from your own group will tell lies to lead the believers away after them. 31Watch, then, and remember that with many tears, day and night, I taught every one of you for three years.
32“And now I commend you to the care of God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you the blessings God has for all his people. 33I have not wanted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that I have worked with these hands of mine to provide everything that my companions and I have needed. 35I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, remembering the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.’ ”
36When Paul finished, he knelt down with them and prayed. 37They were all crying as they hugged him and kissed him goodbye. 38They were especially sad because he had said that they would never see him again. And so they went with him to the ship.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
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.