Acts 20

¹Then, after the tumult ceased, Paul, calling the disciples to himself and exhorting them, said farewell. And he set out, so that he might go into Macedonia.

²And when he had walked through those areas and had exhorted them with many sermons, he went into Greece.

³After he had spent three months there, treacheries were planned against him by the Jews, just as he was about to sail into Syria. And having been advised of this, he return through Macedonia.

⁴Now those accompanying him were Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus from Beroea; and also the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and also Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.

⁵These, after they had gone ahead, waited for us at Troas.

⁶Yet truly, we sailed from Philippi, after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we went to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

⁷Then, on the first Sabbath, when we had assembled together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to set out the next day. But he prolonged his sermon into the middle of the night. The expression “first Sabbath” refers to Easter Sunday, the commemoration of the first Christian Sabbath. In the year in question, Easter Sunday was celebrated some 12 (5 + 7) days or more after “the days of Unleavened Bread”, which refers to Passover. It is unclear how Easter Sunday was calculated at that early time in the Church, but it did not always coincide with Passover.

⁸Now there were plenty of lamps in the upper room, where we were gathered.

⁹And a certain adolescent named Eutychus, sitting on the window sill, was being weighed down by a heavy drowsiness (for Paul was preaching at length). Then, as he went to sleep, he fell from the third floor room downward. And when he was lifted up, he was dead.

¹⁰When Paul had gone down to him, he laid himself over him and, embracing him, said, “Do not worry, for his soul is still within him.”

¹¹And so, going up, and breaking bread, and eating, and having spoken well on until daylight, he then set out.

¹²Now they had brought the boy in alive, and they were more than a little consoled.

¹³Then we climbed aboard the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take in Paul. For so he himself had decided, since he was making the journey by land.

¹⁴And when he had joined us at Assos, we took him in, and we went to Mitylene.

¹⁵And sailing from there, on the following day, we arrived opposite Chios. And next we landed at Samos. And on the following day we went to Miletus.

¹⁶For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not be delayed in Asia. For he was hurrying so that, if it were possible for him, he might observe the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem.

¹⁷Then, sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called those greater by birth in the church.

¹⁸And when they had come to him and were together, he said to them: “You know that from the first day when I entered into Asia, I have been with you, for the entire time, in this manner:

¹⁹serving the Lord, with all humility and despite the tears and trials which befell me from the treacheries of the Jews,

²⁰how I held back nothing that was of value, how well I have preached to you, and that I have taught you publicly and throughout the houses,

²¹testifying both to Jews and to Gentiles about repentance in God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

²²And now, behold, being obliged in spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,

²³except that the Holy Spirit, throughout every city, has cautioned me, saying that chains and tribulations await me at Jerusalem.

²⁴But I dread none of these things. Neither do I consider my life to be more precious because it is my own, provided that in some way I may complete my own course and that of the ministry of the Word, which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵And now, behold, I know that you will no longer see my face, all of you among whom I have traveled, preaching the kingdom of God.

²⁶For this reason, I call you as witnesses on this very day: that I am clean from the blood of all.

²⁷For I have not turned aside in the least from announcing every counsel of God to you.

²⁸Take care of yourselves and of the entire flock, over which the Holy Spirit has stationed you as Bishops to rule the Church of God, which he has purchased by his own blood.

²⁹I know that after my departure ravenous wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock.

³⁰And from among yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things in order to entice disciples after them.

³¹Because of this, be vigilant, retaining in memory that throughout three years I did not cease, night and day, with tears, to admonish each and every one of you.

³²And now, I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace. He has the power to build up, and to give an inheritance to all who are sanctified.

³³I have coveted neither silver and gold, nor apparel,

³⁴as you yourselves know. For that which was needed by me and by those who are with me, these hands have provided.

³⁵I have revealed all things to you, because by laboring in this way, it is necessary to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with all of them.

³⁷Then a great weeping occurred among them all. And, falling upon the neck of Paul, they kissed him,

³⁸being grieved most of all over the word which he had said, that they would never see his face again. And they brought him to the ship.

Acts 20

¹And after the tumult was ceased, Paul calling to him the disciples and exhorting them, took his leave and set forward to go into Macedonia.

²And when he had gone over those parts and had exhorted them with many words, he came into Greece:

³Where, when he had spent three months, the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria. So he took a resolution to return through Macedonia.

⁴And there accompanied him Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus, of Berea: and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus: and Gaius of Derbe and Timothy: and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

⁵These, going before, stayed for us at Troas.

⁶But we sailed from Philippi after the days of the azymes and came to them to Troas in five days, where we abode seven days.

⁷And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, being to depart on the morrow. And he continued his speech until midnight.

⁸And there were a great number of lamps in the upper chamber where we were assembled.

⁹And a certain young man named Eutychus, sitting on the window, being oppressed with a deep sleep (as Paul was long preaching), by occasion of his sleep fell from the third loft down and was taken up dead.

¹⁰To whom, when Paul had gone down, he laid himself upon him and, embracing him, said: Be not troubled, for his soul is in him.

¹¹Then going up and breaking bread and tasting and having talked a long time to them, until daylight, so he departed.

¹²And they brought the youth alive and were not a little comforted.

¹³But we going aboard the ship, sailed to Assos, being there to take in Paul. For so he had appointed, himself purposing to travel by land.

¹⁴And when he had met with us at Assos, we took him in and came to Mitylene.

¹⁵And sailing thence, the day following we came over against Chios: and the next day we arrived at Samos: and the day following we came to Miletus.

¹⁶For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, lest he should be stayed any time in Asia. For he hasted. if it were possible for him, to keep the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem.

¹⁷And sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called the ancients of the church.

¹⁸And when they were come to him and were together, he said to them: You know from the first day that I came into Asia, in what manner I have been with you, for all the time.

¹⁹Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and temptations which befell me by the conspiracies of the Jews:

²⁰How I have kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have preached it to you, and taught you publicly, and from house to house,

²¹Testifying both to Jews and Gentiles penance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

²²And now, behold, being bound in the spirit, I go to Jerusalem: not knowing the things which shall befall me there:

²³Save that the Holy Ghost in every city witnesseth to me, saying: That bands and afflictions wait for me at Jerusalem.

²⁴But I fear none of these things, neither do I count my life more precious than myself, so that I may consummate my course and the ministry of the word which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵And now behold, I know that all you, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

²⁶Wherefore I take you to witness this day that I am clear from the blood of all men.

²⁷For I have not spread to declare unto you all, the counsel of God.

²⁸Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.

²⁹I know that after my departure ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

³⁰And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

³¹Therefore watch, keeping in memory that for three years I ceased not with tears to admonish every one of you, night and day.

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

³³I have not coveted any man's silver, gold or apparel, as

³⁴You yourselves know. For such things as were needful for me and them that are with me, these hands have furnished.

³⁵I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring you ought to support the weak and to remember the word of the Lord Jesus, how he said: It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive.

³⁶And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with them all.

³⁷And there was much weeping among them all. And falling on the neck of Paul, they kissed him,

³⁸Being grieved most of all for the word which he had said, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him on his way to the ship.