Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Acts 20
Paul Travels through Macedonia and Greece
After the uproar ended, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia. He traveled through those regions, giving the believers much encouragement, and then came to Greece. After spending three months there, a plot was made against him by some Jewish opponents just as he was about to sail for Syria, so he decided to return through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. These men went ahead and waited for us in Troas. After the days of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi and joined them in Troas five days later, where we stayed seven days.
Eutychus Falls and Is Restored
On the first day of the week, when we gathered to break bread, Paul began speaking to them. Since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were gathered. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window. As Paul continued speaking at length, Eutychus sank into a deep sleep. Overcome by sleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself over him, embraced him, and said, “Do not be alarmed, because his life is in him.” Then Paul went upstairs, broke bread, and ate. He talked with them for a long time, until dawn, and then left. They brought the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
Paul Hurries toward Jerusalem
We went ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we intended to take Paul aboard. He had arranged it this way because he intended to travel there by land. When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went to Mitylene. Sailing from there, the next day we came opposite Chios. The following day we crossed to Samos, and the day after that we came to Miletus. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so he would not spend time in Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
Paul Calls the Ephesian Elders
From Miletus Paul sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. When they came to him, he said, “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day I entered Asia, serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and through the trials that came to me because of the plots of some Jewish opponents. You know that I did not hold back from declaring anything beneficial to you or from teaching you publicly and from house to house. I testified to both Jewish and Greek people about repentance toward God and trust in our Lord Jesus. And now look—I am going to Jerusalem, bound by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that in city after city the Holy Spirit testifies to me that imprisonment and hardships are waiting for me. But I consider my life worth nothing to myself if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus: to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
Shepherd God’s Flock
“And now look—I know that none of you among whom I traveled proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you today that I am innocent of everyone’s blood, because I did not hold back from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he acquired with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from among your own group people will rise up and speak distorted things to draw disciples after themselves. Therefore stay alert, remembering that for three years, night and day, I never stopped warning each one of you with tears. And now I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you the inheritance among all those who have been made holy.
Work, Help the Weak, and Give
“I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands supplied my needs and the needs of those with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” After saying these things, Paul knelt down and prayed with all of them. They all wept greatly, embraced Paul, and kissed him. They were especially sorrowful because of what he had said—that they would not see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.