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After he had gone through those districts and had encouraged the believers, he came to Greece. And he stayed three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia (northern Greece). He was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and by Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. These men went on ahead and were waiting for us (including Luke) at Troas. We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread (Passover week), and within five days we reached them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

Now on the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread (share communion), Paul began talking with them, intending to leave the next day; and he kept on with his message until midnight. Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled, and there was a young man named Eutychus (“Lucky”) sitting on the window sill. He was sinking into a deep sleep, and as Paul [a]kept on talking longer and longer, he was completely overcome by sleep and fell down from the third story; and he was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down and threw himself on him and embraced him, and said [to those standing around him], “Do not be troubled, because [b]he is alive.” 11 When Paul had gone back upstairs and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked [informally and confidentially] with them for a long time—until daybreak [in fact]—and then he left. 12 They took the boy [Eutychus] home alive, and were greatly comforted and encouraged.

Troas to Miletus

13 But we went on ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for that was what he had arranged, intending himself to go [a shorter route] by land. 14 So when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and sailed on to Mitylene. 15 Sailing from there, we arrived the next day [at a point] opposite Chios; the following day we crossed over to Samos, and the next day we arrived at Miletus [about 30 miles south of Ephesus]. 16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus so that he would not end up spending time [unnecessarily] in [the province of] Asia (modern Turkey); for he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of [c]Pentecost.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:9 Luke (the writer) takes a good-natured poke at Paul when he describes Paul’s long-winded preaching. Anyone who studies Paul’s letters, especially in the original Greek, will soon discover that Paul was a vivacious, wonderfully emotional servant of the Lord who was never stingy with words.
  2. Acts 20:10 Lit his soul is in him.
  3. Acts 20:16 The yearly Jewish festival which celebrated the harvest.

He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him(A) just as he was about to sail for Syria,(B) he decided to go back through Macedonia.(C) He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus(D) and Secundus from Thessalonica,(E) Gaius(F) from Derbe, Timothy(G) also, and Tychicus(H) and Trophimus(I) from the province of Asia.(J) These men went on ahead and waited for us(K) at Troas.(L) But we sailed from Philippi(M) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,(N) where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

On the first day of the week(O) we came together to break bread.(P) Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room(Q) where we were meeting. 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. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man(R) and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”(S) 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread(T) and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

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. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.(U) 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus(V) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,(W) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,(X) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.(Y)

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