Acts 20

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

1After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for 1the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left 2to go to 3Macedonia. 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 4a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for 5Syria, he decided to return through 6Macedonia. 4And 7he was accompanied by Sopater of 8Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by 9Aristarchus and Secundus of the 10Thessalonians, and 11Gaius of 12Derbe, and 13Timothy, and 14Tychicus and 15Trophimus of 1617Asia. 5But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for 18us at 19Troas. 620We sailed from 21Philippi after 22the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at 23Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.

7On 24the first day of the week, when 25we were gathered together to 26break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his 27message until midnight. 8There were many 28lamps in the 29upper room where we were gathered together. 9And there was a young man named 30Eutychus sitting 31on 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 32fell upon him, and after embracing him, he 33said, “34Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” 11When he had gone back up and had 35broken the bread and 36eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. 12They took away the boy alive, and were 37greatly comforted.

Troas to Miletus

13But 38we, 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 39by 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 the day following we came to 40Miletus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past 41Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in 4243Asia; for he was hurrying 44to be in Jerusalem, if possible, 45on the day of Pentecost.

Farewell to Ephesus

17From Miletus he sent to 46Ephesus and called to him 47the elders of the church. 18And when they had come to him, he said to them,

“You yourselves know, 48from the first day that I set foot in 49Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me 50through 51the plots of the Jews; 20how I 52did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and 53from house to house, 21solemnly 54testifying to both Jews and Greeks of 55repentance toward God and 56faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, bound by the 57Spirit, 58I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that 59the Holy Spirit solemnly 60testifies to me in every city, saying that 61bonds and afflictions await me. 24But 62I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may 63finish my course and 64the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to 65testify solemnly of the gospel of 66the grace of God.

25“And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about 67preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26Therefore, I 68testify to you this day that 69I am 70innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I 71did not shrink from declaring to you the whole 72purpose of God. 28Be on guard for yourselves and for all 73the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you 74overseers, to shepherd 75the church of God which 76He 77purchased 78with His own blood. 29I know that after my departure 79savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing 80the flock; 30and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away 81the disciples after them. 31Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of 82three years I did not cease to admonish each one 83with tears. 32And now I 84commend you to God and to 85the word of His grace, which is able to 86build you up and to give you 87the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 3388I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34You yourselves know that 89these hands ministered to my own needs and to the 90men 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 Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36When he had said these things, he 91knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And 92they began to weep aloud and 9394embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 3895grieving especially over 96the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were 97accompanying him to the ship.