Acts 20

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

1After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for 1the disciples, and when he had 2encouraged them and taken his leave of them, he left 3to go to 4Macedonia. 2When he had gone through those regions and had given them much 5encouragement, he came to Greece. 3And there he spent three months, and when 6a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for 7Syria, he decided to return through 8Macedonia. 4And 9he was accompanied by Sopater of 10Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by 11Aristarchus and Secundus of the 12Thessalonians, and 13Gaius of 14Derbe, and 15Timothy, and 16Tychicus and 17Trophimus of 1819Asia. 5Now these had gone on ahead and were waiting for 20us at 21Troas. 622We sailed from 23Philippi after 2425the days of Unleavened Bread, and reached them at 26Troas within five days; and we stayed there for seven days.

7On 27the first day of the week, when 28we were gathered together to 29break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his 30message until midnight. 8There were many 31lamps in the 32upstairs room where we were gathered together. 9And there was a young man named 33Eutychus sitting 34on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, Eutychus was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead. 10But Paul went down and 35fell upon him, and after embracing him, he 36said, “37Do not be troubled, for 38he is still alive.” 11When Paul had gone back up and had 39broken the bread and 40eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. 12They took away the boy alive, and were 41greatly comforted.

Troas to Miletus

13But 42we went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for that was what he had arranged, intending himself to go 43by 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 on the following day we came to 44Miletus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past 45Ephesus so that he would not have to lose time in 4647Asia; for he was hurrying, if it might be possible for him 48to be in Jerusalem 49the day of Pentecost.

Farewell to Ephesus

17From Miletus he sent word to 50Ephesus and called to himself 51the elders of the church. 18And when they came to him, he said to them,

“You yourselves know, 52from the first day that I set foot in 53Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came upon me 54through 55the plots of the Jews; 20how I 56did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was beneficial, and teaching you publicly and 57from house to house, 21solemnly 58testifying to both Jews and Greeks of 59repentance toward God and 60faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, bound by the 61Spirit, 62I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that 63the Holy Spirit solemnly 64testifies to me in every city, saying that 65chains and afflictions await me. 24But 66I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may 67finish my course and 68the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to 69testify solemnly of the gospel of 70God’s grace.

25“And now behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about 71preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26Therefore, I 72testify to you this day that 73I am 74innocent of the blood of all people. 27For I 75did not shrink from declaring to you the whole 76purpose of God. 28Be on guard for yourselves and for all 77the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you 78overseers, to shepherd 79the church of God which 80He 81purchased 82with His own blood. 29I know that after my departure 83savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing 84the flock; 30and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away 85the disciples after them. 31Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of 86three years I did not cease to admonish each one 87with tears. 32And now I 88entrust you to God and to 89the word of His grace, which is able to 90build you up and to give you 91the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 3392I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34You yourselves know that 93these hands served my own needs and the 94men who were with me. 35In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way 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 95knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And 96they all began to weep aloud and 9798embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 3899grieving especially over 100the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were 101accompanying him to the ship.