Acts 20Book 44 of 66 · 38 verses · MBT primary, NKJV fallback where MBT pending
After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and after saying farewell, departed to go to Macedonia.
Now when he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.
and stayed three months. And when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas.
But we sailed away from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we reached them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Now on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul spoke to them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
And a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the window sill, sank into a deep sleep as Paul kept on talking. When he was overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead.
But Paul went down, bent over him, embraced him, and said, 'Don’t be alarmed, because he’s alive.'
Now when he had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he talked a long time until dawn. Then he left.
And they brought the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.
Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were going to take Paul on board, for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot.
And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went on to Mitylene.
We 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.
For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church.
And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I lived among you the whole time,
serving the Lord with all humility, with tears and trials that happened to me through the plotting of the Jews;
how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, but taught you publicly and from house to house,
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that chains and afflictions await me.
But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
And indeed, now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom of God will see my face no more.
Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,
for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
For I know this, that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Therefore be on the alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.
So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.