20:1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia.
20:2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,
20:3 where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
20:4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
20:5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas.
20:6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.
20:8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.
20:9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.
20:10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”
20:11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.
20:12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
20:13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot.
20:14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.
20:15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.
20:16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
20:17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
20:18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.
20:19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.
20:20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
20:22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
20:23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
20:25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.
20:26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
20:27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
20:29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
20:30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
20:31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
20:32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
20:33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
20:34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.
20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
20:36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.
20:37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.
20:38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
20:1 And after the uproar had ceased, Paul, having sent for the disciples and having exhorted them, took leave of them and went off to go into Macedonia.
20:2 And when he had passed through those parts and had exhorted them with many words, he came into Greece,
20:3 And spent three months there. And when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he resolved to return through Macedonia.
20:4 And Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him, as well as Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians and Gaius of Derbe and Timothy and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
20:5 These had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas.
20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread and in five days came to them in Troas, where we spent seven days.
20:7 And on the first day of the week, when we gathered together to break bread, Paul conversed with them since he was to go forth on the next day; and he extended his message until midnight.
20:8 And there were a considerable number of lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.
20:9 And a certain young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window and began to sink into deep sleep while Paul conversed longer; and when he had been overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
20:10 But Paul went down and fell upon him, and embracing him, he said, Do not make a commotion, for his soul is in him.
20:11 And when he had gone up and broken the bread and eaten and had spoken for a considerable time, until daybreak, he therefore went forth.
20:12 And they brought the boy alive and were comforted, and that not moderately.
20:13 But we, going ahead onto the ship, set sail for Assos, from there intending to pick up Paul, for so he had arranged it, himself intending to go by foot.
20:14 And when he met us in Assos, we picked him up and came to Mitylene.
20:15 And sailing away from there, on the following day we arrived opposite Chios; and on the next day we put in at Samos. And on the day following we came to Miletus,
20:16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying so that if possible he might be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
20:17 And from Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
20:18 And when they came to him, he said to them, You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,
20:19 Serving the Lord as a slave with all humility and tears and trials which came upon me by the plots of the Jews;
20:20 How I did not withhold any of those things that are profitable by not declaring them to you and by not teaching you publicly and from house to house,
20:21 Solemnly testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance unto God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
20:22 And now, behold, I am going bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will meet me there,
20:23 Except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in city after city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
20:24 But I consider my life of no account as if precious to myself, in order that I may finish my course and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus to solemnly testify of the gospel of the grace of God.
20:25 And now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more.
20:26 Therefore I testify to you on this day that I am clean from the blood of all men,
20:27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you all the counsel of God.
20:28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers to shepherd the church of God, which He obtained through His own blood.
20:29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
20:30 And from among you yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverted things to draw away the disciples after them.
20:31 Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not cease admonishing each one with tears.
20:32 And now I commit 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 have been sanctified.
20:33 I have coveted no one s silver or gold or clothing.
20:34 You yourselves know that these hands have ministered to my needs and to those who are with me.
20:35 In all things I have shown you by example that toiling in this way we ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
20:36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down with them all and prayed.
20:37 And there was considerable weeping by all; and falling on Paul s neck, they kissed him affectionately,
20:38 Especially pained over the word which he had spoken, that they would no longer behold his face. And they escorted him to the ship.