Acts 20

New International Version

Through Macedonia and Greece

20 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples^(A) and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.^(B) ²He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, ³where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him^(C) just as he was about to sail for Syria,^(D) he decided to go back through Macedonia.^(E) ⁴He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus^(F) and Secundus from Thessalonica,^(G) Gaius^(H) from Derbe, Timothy^(I) also, and Tychicus^(J) and Trophimus^(K) from the province of Asia.^(L) ⁵These men went on ahead and waited for us^(M) at Troas.^(N) ⁶But we sailed from Philippi^(O) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,^(P) where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

⁷On the first day of the week^(Q) we came together to break bread.^(R) Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸There were many lamps in the upstairs room^(S) where we were meeting. ⁹Seated 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. ¹⁰Paul went down, threw himself on the young man^(T) and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”^(U) ¹¹Then he went upstairs again and broke bread^(V) and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹²The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

¹³We 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. ¹⁴When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. ¹⁵The 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.^(W) ¹⁶Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus^(X) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,^(Y) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,^(Z) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.^(AA)

¹⁷From Miletus,^(AB) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders^(AC) of the church. ¹⁸When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,^(AD) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.^(AE) ¹⁹I served the Lord with great humility and with tears^(AF) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.^(AG) ²⁰You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything^(AH) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹I have declared to both Jews^(AI) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance^(AJ) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.^(AK)

²²“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,^(AL) not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me^(AM) that prison and hardships are facing me.^(AN) ²⁴However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(AO) my only aim is to finish the race^(AP) and complete the task^(AQ) the Lord Jesus has given me^(AR)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(AS)

²⁵“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom^(AT) will ever see me again.^(AU) ²⁶Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.^(AV) ²⁷For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.^(AW) ²⁸Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(AX) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(AY) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a]^(AZ) which he bought^(BA) with his own blood.^[b]^(BB) ²⁹I know that after I leave, savage wolves^(BC) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.^(BD) ³⁰Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples^(BE) after them. ³¹So be on your guard! Remember that for three years^(BF) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.^(BG)

³²“Now I commit you to God^(BH) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance^(BI) among all those who are sanctified.^(BJ) ³³I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^(BK) ³⁴You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^(BL) ³⁵In 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.’ ”

³⁶When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.^(BM) ³⁷They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.^(BN) ³⁸What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.^(BO) Then they accompanied him to the ship.^(BP)