Acts of the Apostles 20

Through Macedonia and Greece

1When the uproar had died down, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, said his farewells and set out for Macedonia. 2He traveled through those regions, giving the believers much encouragement, and came to Greece, 3where he stayed three months. As he was about to sail for Syria, a plot was laid against him by the Jews, so he decided to go back by way of Macedonia. 4Traveling with him were Sopater son of Pyrrhus, from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus, from Thessalonica; Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus, from Asia. 5These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6We ourselves sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined them at Troas, where we stayed a week.

Eutychus at Troas

7On the first day of the week, when we had gathered to break bread, Paul spoke to them. Since he meant to leave the next morning, he kept talking until midnight. 8There were many lamps burning in the upstairs room where we were gathered. 9A young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window, and as Paul talked on and on he sank into a deep sleep. Overcome at last, he fell three stories to the ground and was picked up dead. 10Paul went down, threw himself upon him and took him in his arms. “Stop the commotion,” he said. “He is alive.” 11Then he went back up, broke the bread and ate, and talked on for a long while, until daybreak; and so he left. 12They took the boy home alive, and were more comforted than words can say. 13We went ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, meaning to take Paul on board there; that was his own arrangement, since he intended to travel overland. 14When he met us at Assos we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15Sailing from there, we came the next day opposite Chios; the day after we crossed to Samos, and the day after that we reached Miletus. 16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so as not to lose time in Asia; he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if he possibly could, by the day of Pentecost.

Paul says goodbye to the elders of Ephesus

17From Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. 18When they arrived he said to them: “You know how I lived among you the whole time, from the first day I set foot in Asia: 19serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and through the ordeals that came upon me from the plots of the Jews. 20You know that I held back nothing that was for your good; I told you everything and taught you in public and from house to house, 21urging Jews and Greeks alike to turn to God in repentance and to have faith in our Lord Jesus. 22And now, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that in city after city the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and hardships are waiting for me. 24But I count my life of no value to myself; all I want is to finish my course and complete the service I received from the Lord Jesus: to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25And now I know that none of you, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face again. 26So I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27for I did not shrink from announcing to you the whole purpose of God.

Keep watch over the flock

28Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he won for himself with the blood of his own. 29I know that after I am gone savage wolves will come in among you, and they will not spare the flock. 30From your own number men will rise up and twist the truth to drag the disciples away after them. 31So stay awake, and remember that for three years, night and day, I never stopped warning each one of you, with tears. 32And now I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you the inheritance among all those who are made holy. 33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You know yourselves that these hands provided for my own needs and for those who were with me. 35In everything I showed you that by working like this we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 36When he had finished speaking he knelt down with them all and prayed. 37They all wept aloud, and threw their arms around Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38grieving most of all over his words that they would never see his face again. Then they walked with him to the ship.