Acts 20
20
1When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia. 2He went through that region and spoke many words of encouragement to the people. Then he went to Greece 3and stayed there for three months.
Paul in Troas
When Paul was going to board a ship for Syria, he found out that the Jews were plotting to kill him. So he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4Sopater (son of Pyrrhus) from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia accompanied Paul. 5All these men went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas. 6After the Festival of Unleavened Bread, we boarded a ship at Philippi. Five days later we joined them in Troas and stayed there for seven days.
7On Sunday we met to break bread. Paul was discussing ⌞Scripture⌟ with the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 8(Many lamps were lit in the upstairs room where we were meeting.)
9A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window. As Paul was talking on and on, Eutychus was gradually falling asleep. Finally, overcome by sleep, he fell from the third story and was dead when they picked him up. 10Paul went to him, took him into his arms, and said, “Don’t worry! He’s alive!” 11Then Eutychus went upstairs again, broke the bread, and ate. Paul talked with the people for a long time, until sunrise, and then left.
12The people took the boy home. They were greatly relieved that he was alive.
Paul’s Trip to Miletus
13We went ahead to the ship and sailed for the city of Assos. At Assos, we were going to pick up Paul. He had made these arrangements, since he had planned to walk overland to Assos. 14When Paul met us in Assos, we took him on board and went to the city of Mitylene. 15We sailed from there. On the following day we approached the island of Chios. The next day we went by the island of Samos, and on the next day we arrived at the city of Miletus. 16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if that was possible.
Paul Meets with the Spiritual Leaders from Ephesus
17From Miletus Paul sent messengers to the city of Ephesus and called the spiritual leaders #20:17 Or “pastors,” or “elders.” of the church to meet with him ⌞in Miletus⌟. 18When they were with him, he said to them, “You know how I spent all my time with you from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. 19I humbly served the Lord, often with tears in my eyes. I served the Lord during the difficult times I went through when the Jews plotted against me. 20I didn’t avoid telling you anything that would help you, and I didn’t avoid teaching you publicly and from house to house. 21I warned Jews and Greeks to change the way they think and act and to believe in our Lord Jesus.
22“I am determined to go to Jerusalem now. I don’t know what will happen to me there. 23However, the Holy Spirit warns me in every city that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me. 24But I don’t place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I’m running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness.#20:24 Or “grace.”
25“Now I know that none of you whom I told about God’s kingdom will see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am not responsible for the ⌞spiritual⌟ death of any of you. 27I didn’t avoid telling you the whole plan of God. 28Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God’s church which he acquired with his own blood. 29I know that fierce wolves will come to you after I leave, and they won’t spare the flock. 30Some of your own men will come forward and say things that distort the truth. They will do this to lure disciples into following them. 31So be alert! Remember that I instructed each of you for three years, day and night, at times with tears in my eyes.
32“I am now entrusting you to God and to his message that tells how kind he is. That message can help you grow and can give you the inheritance that is shared by all of God’s holy people.
33“I never wanted anyone’s silver, gold, or clothes. 34You know that I worked to support myself and those who were with me. 35I have given you an example that by working hard like this we should help the weak. We should remember the words that the Lord Jesus said, ‘Giving gifts is more satisfying than receiving them.’ ”
36When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. 37Everyone cried a lot as they put their arms around Paul and kissed him. 38The thought of not seeing Paul again hurt them most of all. Then they took Paul to the ship.
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Acts 20: GW
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Acts 20
20
1 Then, after the tumult ceased, Paul, calling the disciples to himself and exhorting them, said farewell. And he set out, so that he might go into Macedonia.
2 And when he had walked through those areas and had exhorted them with many sermons, he went into Greece.
3 After he had spent three months there, treacheries were planned against him by the Jews, just as he was about to sail into Syria. And having been advised of this, he return through Macedonia.
4 Now those accompanying him were Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus from Beroea; and also the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and also Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.
5 These, after they had gone ahead, waited for us at Troas.
6 Yet truly, we sailed from Philippi, after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we went to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
7 Then, on the first Sabbath, when we had assembled together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to set out the next day. But he prolonged his sermon into the middle of the night.
8 Now there were plenty of lamps in the upper room, where we were gathered.
9 And a certain adolescent named Eutychus, sitting on the window sill, was being weighed down by a heavy drowsiness (for Paul was preaching at length). Then, as he went to sleep, he fell from the third floor room downward. And when he was lifted up, he was dead.
10 When Paul had gone down to him, he laid himself over him and, embracing him, said, "Do not worry, for his soul is still within him."
11 And so, going up, and breaking bread, and eating, and having spoken well on until daylight, he then set out.
12 Now they had brought the boy in alive, and they were more than a little consoled.
13 Then we climbed aboard the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take in Paul. For so he himself had decided, since he was making the journey by land.
14 And when he had joined us at Assos, we took him in, and we went to Mitylene.
15 And sailing from there, on the following day, we arrived opposite Chios. And next we landed at Samos. And on the following day we went to Miletus.
16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not be delayed in Asia. For he was hurrying so that, if it were possible for him, he might observe the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem.
17 Then, sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called those greater by birth in the church.
18 And when they had come to him and were together, he said to them: "You know that from the first day when I entered into Asia, I have been with you, for the entire time, in this manner:
19 serving the Lord, with all humility and despite the tears and trials which befell me from the treacheries of the Jews,
20 how I held back nothing that was of value, how well I have preached to you, and that I have taught you publicly and throughout the houses,
21 testifying both to Jews and to Gentiles about repentance in God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, being obliged in spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit, throughout every city, has cautioned me, saying that chains and tribulations await me at Jerusalem.
24 But I dread none of these things. Neither do I consider my life to be more precious because it is my own, provided that in some way I may complete my own course and that of the ministry of the Word, which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that you will no longer see my face, all of you among whom I have traveled, preaching the kingdom of God.
26 For this reason, I call you as witnesses on this very day: that I am clean from the blood of all.
27 For I have not turned aside in the least from announcing every counsel of God to you.
28 Take care of yourselves and of the entire flock, over which the Holy Spirit has stationed you as Bishops to rule the Church of God, which he has purchased by his own blood.
29 I know that after my departure ravenous wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock.
30 And from among yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things in order to entice disciples after them.
31 Because of this, be vigilant, retaining in memory that throughout three years I did not cease, night and day, with tears, to admonish each and every one of you.
32 And now, I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace. He has the power to build up, and to give an inheritance to all who are sanctified.
33 I have coveted neither silver and gold, nor apparel,
34 as you yourselves know. For that which was needed by me and by those who are with me, these hands have provided.
35 I have revealed all things to you, because by laboring in this way, it is necessary to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
36 And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with all of them.
37 Then a great weeping occurred among them all. And, falling upon the neck of Paul, they kissed him,
38 being grieved most of all over the word which he had said, that they would never see his face again. And they brought him to the ship.
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