Acts 20

1 But, after the tumult had ceased, Paul, sending for the disciples and exhorting them, took leave, and went forth to be journeying unto Macedonia.

After the people at Ephesus had stopped rioting, Paul summoned the believers. He encouraged them [to continue to trust in the Lord Jesus. Soon] after that, he told them goodbye and left to go to Macedonia [province].

2 Passing through those parts, however, and exhorting them with much discourse, he came into Greece;

[After he arrived] there, he visited [each town where there were believers], and encouraged them. Then he arrived in Greece [province], [which is also called Achaia].

3 and, spending three months, when a plot was laid against him by the Jews, as he was about to sail to Syria, he determined to turn back through Macedonia.

He stayed there for three months. Then he planned to return to Syria by ship, but [he heard that] some of the Jews [SYN] [in that area] were planning to kill him [as he traveled. So] he decided instead to go [by land, and he traveled] again through Macedonia.

4 Now there were accompanying him, Sopater, son of Pyrrhus a Beroean; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe and Timothy; and, of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

The men who were going to travel with him [to Jerusalem were] Sopater, [who was] a son of Pyrrhus, who grew up in Berea [town]; Aristarchus and Secundus, who were from Thessalonica [city; ] Gaius, [who was] from Derbe [town; ] Timothy, [who was from Galatia province; ] and Tychicus and Trophimus who were from Asia [province].

5 And, these, came and were waiting for us at Troas.

Those [seven] men went ahead of [Paul and me, Luke, by ship from Macedonia, so] they got to Troas [before we did and] waited for [the two of] us there.

6 And, we, sailed forth, after the days of unleavened bread, from Philippi, and came unto them in Troas in five days, where we tarried seven days.

[But we two(exc) traveled by land as far as] Philippi [city]. After the Jewish festival [when they eat] unleavened bread, we got on a ship [that was going from] the port near [Philippi to Troas city]. After five days we [(exc)] arrived at Troas and we met the other men who had traveled there [ahead of us]. Then we [all] stayed in Troas for seven days.

7 And, on the first of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul went on to discourse with them, being about to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his discourse until midnight.

(On Sunday evening/On the evening of the first day of the week), we [(exc) and the other believers there] gathered together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper [and to eat other food] [SYN]. Paul spoke to the believers. He continued teaching them until midnight, because he was planning to leave [Troas] the next day.

8 Now there were a good many torches in the upper room, where we were gathered together.

Many [oil] lamps were burning in the upstairs room in which we [(exc)] had gathered, [so the fumes caused some people to become sleepy].

9 And there sat, a certain young man by name Eutychus, in the window, who was getting overpowered by a deep sleep; and, while Paul was discoursing yet further, being overpowered by his sleep, he fell, from the third story, down, and was taken up dead.

A young man whose name was Eutychus was there. He was seated on [the sill of] an [open] window [on the third story of the house]. As Paul continued talking for a long time, Eutychus became sleepier and sleepier. Finally, he was sound/really asleep. He fell [out of the window] from the third story down [to the ground. Some of the believers went down] immediately and picked him up. [But he was] dead.

10 Going down, however, Paul fell upon him, and, embracing him, said—Be not making confusion; for, his soul, is, in him.

Paul [also] went down. He lay down and stretched out on top of the young man and put his arms around him. Then he said [to the people who were standing around], “Do not worry, he is alive [again now]!”

11 And, going up, and breaking the loaf, and tasting, —for a good while also conversing, until dawn, thus, he departed.

Then Paul, [along with the others], went upstairs again and they ate the Lord’s Supper and other food [SYN]. Afterwards, Paul conversed with the believers until dawn. Then he left.

12 And they brought the boy alive, and were comforted beyond measure.

The [other] people took the young man [home], and were greatly encouraged because he was alive [again].

13 And, we, going forward unto the ship, set sail for Assos, from thence being about to take up Paul; for, so, had he arranged, being about, himself, to go on foot.

We then went to the ship. Paul did not get on the ship [with us in Troas], because he preferred to go [more quickly] overland to Assos [town]. The rest of us got on the ship and sailed for Assos.

14 And, when he fell in with us in Assos, we took him on board, and came into Mitylene;

We [(exc)] met Paul in Assos. He got on [the ship] with us, and we sailed to Mitylene [town].

15 and, from thence sailing away on the morrow, we came over against Chios, and, on the next day, we thrust aside into Samos, and, on the succeeding day, we came into Miletus.

The day after [we reached Mitylene], we [sailed from there and] arrived [at a place] near Kios [Island]. The day after that, we sailed to Samos [Island]. The next day we [left Samos and] sailed to Miletus [town].

16 For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, lest he should happen to lose time in Asia; for he hastened, if it were possible for him, against the day of Pentecost, to arrive, in Jerusalem.

[Miletus was just south of Ephesus city]. Paul had [earlier] decided that he would not get on a ship that would stop at Ephesus, because he did not want to spend [several] days in Asia [province]. If possible, he wanted to arrive in Jerusalem by the [time of the] Pentecost festival, [and the time of that festival was near].

17 But, from Miletus, he sent unto Ephesus, and called for the elders of the assembly.

[When the ship arrived at] Miletus, Paul sent [a messenger] to Ephesus to ask the elders of the congregation to come to talk with him.

18 And, when they were come to him, he said unto them—Ye yourselves, well know, from the first day when I set foot in Asia, in what manner came to be with you all the time,

When the elders arrived, Paul said to them, “You personally know how I [conducted myself among you the entire time] that I was with you, from the first day when I arrived [here] in Asia [province until the day I left].

19 doing service unto the Lord, with all humility and tears, and temptations which befell me through the plots of the Jews:

[You know how] I was serving the Lord [Jesus] very humbly and how I sometimes wept [about people. You also know how] I suffered because the Jews [SYN] [who were not believers often] tried [to harm me].

20 in what manner I in nowise shrank from announcing unto you anything that was profitable and teaching you publicly and in your homes;

You also know that, as I preached [God’s message] to you, I never left out anything that would help you. You know that I taught you [God’s message] when many people were present, and I [also went to your] homes and taught it there.

21 bearing full witness, both to Jews and to Greeks, as to the repentance due unto God, and as to belief on our Lord Jesus.

I preached both to Jews and to non-Jews, telling them [all] that they must turn away from their sinful behavior. [I also told them they should] believe in our Lord Jesus.”

22 And, now, lo! I, bound in my spirit, am journeying unto Jerusalem; the things which therein shall befall me, not knowing, —

“And now note this: I am going to Jerusalem, because [God’s] Spirit has clearly shown me that I must go there. I do not know what will happen to me [while I am there].

23 save that, the Holy Spirit, from city to city, doth bear me full witness, saying that, bonds and tribulations, await me.

But I do know that in each city [where I have stopped], the Holy Spirit has (told me/[caused the believers to] tell me) that [in Jerusalem] people will put me in prison [PRS] and will cause me to suffer [PRS].

24 But, for no cause whatever, am I making my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to bear full witness as to the good news of the favour of God.

But I do not care even if people kill me, if first I am able to finish the work [MET] that the Lord Jesus has told me [to do. He appointed me] to tell people the good message that God [saves us] by doing for us what we do not deserve.

25 And, now, lo! I, know that, no more, shall ye see my face, —ye all, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom.

I have preached to you the message about how God desires to rule [people’s lives]. But now I know that today is the last time that you fellow believers will see me [SYN].

26 Wherefore I take you to witness, on this very day, that, pure am I from the blood of all;

So I want you all to understand that if anyone [who has heard me preach] dies [without trusting in Jesus], it is not my fault [MTY],

27 for I have not shrunk from announcing all the counsel of God unto you.

because I told you [LIT] everything [HYP] that God has planned for us [(inc)].

28 Be taking heed unto yourselves, and unto all the little flock in which the Holy Spirit hath set, you, as overseers, —to be shepherding the assembly of God which he hath acquired through means of the blood of his own.

[You leaders] must continue to believe and obey [God’s message. You must also help] all the other believers [MET] for whom the Holy Spirit has caused you to be responsible [MTY]. Watch over [MET] yourselves and the other believers [as] a shepherd [watches over his sheep]. God bought them with the blood [that flowed from] his [Son’s body on the cross].

29 I, know, that there will enter, after my departure, grievous wolves into your midst, not sparing the little flock;

I know [very well] that after I leave, [people who teach] [MET] [false doctrines] will come among you and will do great harm to the believers. [They will be like] fierce wolves [that kill sheep].

30 and, from among your own selves, will arise men speaking distorted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

Even in your own group of believers there will be some who will deceive [other] believers by teaching them messages that are false. They will teach those messages so that some people [will believe them and] will become their followers.

31 Wherefore, be on the watch, remembering that, for three years, night and day, I gave myself no rest, with tears, admonishing each one.

So watch out [that none of you stops believing the true message about our Lord Jesus]. Remember that day and night for [about] three years I repeatedly taught you that message, and warned you with tears [in my eyes not to believe any other message].”

32 Now, therefore, I commend you unto the Lord, and unto his word of favour, —which is able to build up and give the inheritance among all the hallowed ones.

“[Now as I leave you], I ask God to protect you and to keep you believing the message [that he saves us(inc)] by doing for us what we do not deserve. [If you continue believing] the message [that I told you], you will become [spiritually mature], and God will give you the blessings that he has promised to give to all of those who belong to him.

33 The silver or gold or apparel of no one, did I covet:

[As for myself], I have not desired anyone’s money [MTY] or [fine] clothing.

34 yourselves, acknowledge that, for my necessities and for those who were with me, hard wrought these hands!

You yourselves know that I have worked [with my hands] [MTY] to earn the money that my companions and I needed.

35 In all things, I gave you to understand, that, thus toiling, it behoves to be helping the weak, also to be keeping in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, that, he himself, said—Happy is it, rather to give than to receive!

In everything that I did, I showed you that we [(inc)] should work hard in order [to have enough money] to give some to those who are needy. We [(inc)] should remember that our Lord Jesus himself said, ‘You are happy when people give you what you need, but God will be happy with you when you give other people what they need.’”

36 And, these things saying, kneeling down with them all, he prayed.

When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of the elders and prayed.

37 And they all wept much, and, falling upon Paul’s neck, they were tenderly kissing him;

They all cried a lot, and they hugged Paul and kissed him.

38 being most distressed for the word which he had said, —That, no more, should they, his face, behold. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

They were especially sad because he had said that they would never see him [SYN] again. Then they [all] went with him to the ship.