THE BOOK OF ACTS

 

Acts Chapter 20

1 ¶ After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and encouraged them, and after taking leave set out for Macedonia.

2 And after he had traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to them, he went to Greece,

3 And stayed there three months. And just when he was ready to sail for Syria, the Jews were lying in wait for him, so he decided to return through Macedonia.

4 And he was accompanied to Asia by Sopater son of Pyrrhus of Berea; by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; by Gaius from Derbe, by Timothy; and by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.

5 These went on ahead and waited for us at Troas.

6 But we sailed from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, joined the others at Troas five days later; and remained there for seven days.

7 ¶ On the first day of the week, when the disciples gathered together to break bread, Paul preached to them, and because he planned to leave the next day; prolonged his speech until midnight.

8 Now there were many lamps in the upper room, where we were gathered together.

9 However a certain young man named Eutychus was seated in a window, and sinking into a deep sleep: as Paul talked on and on, he fell down from the third story, and was picked up dead.

10 And Paul having gone down, threw himself on him, put his arms around him and said, Do not be troubled; for his life is in him.

11 And when Paul had gone back upstairs, and broken bread, and eaten, he talked with them for a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.

12 And they took the young man home alive, and were greatly comforted.

13 ¶ Now we went on ahead to the ship, and sailed for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there: for that is what he had arranged, since he was going there on foot.

14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and went on to Mitylene.

15 And having sailed there, we arrived opposite Chios on the next day; the day after that we arrived at Samos, stayed the night at Trogyllium; and arrived in Miletus on the following day.

16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia: for he was hurrying, to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if at all possible.

17 ¶ Now he sent to Ephesus from Miletus, and summoned the elders of the congregation.

18 And when they arrived, he said to them, You know how I lived, the whole time I was in Asia, from the first day that I arrived,

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and trials, that befell me in connection with Jewish plots:

20 How I did not shrink from telling you anything that would be helpful to you, but have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

21 Testifying to both the Jews, and also to the Greeks, of repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, I go as bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there:

23 Except that in every city the Holy Ghost warns me, that bonds and afflictions await me.

24 But none of these things deter me, nor do I regard my life as dear to me, in order that I might finish my course with joy, fulfilling the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus, by testifying to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom of God, will see me again.

26 Therefore I declare to you this day, that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

27 For I have not hesitated to declare to you all the counsel of God.

28 Therefore be on guard for yourselves, and for all the flock, of which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, that he has purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know this, that after I leave grievous wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also from your own number men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw the disciples away after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that for three years I never stopped warning everyone night and day with tears.

32 And now, brethren, I commit you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

33 I have not coveted any man’s silver, or gold, or clothing.

34 Yea, you yourselves know, that these hands have provided for my needs, and the needs of those with me.

35 In everything I have shown you, how that by working hard as I do we should help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

36 ¶ And having said these things, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

37 And they all wept openly, and embracing Paul, kissed him,

38 Grieving most of all because he said, that they would not see him again. And they accompanied him to the ship.