Acts 20

1 And after the uproar had ceased, Paul called to him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed to go into 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 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, 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 there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return 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 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; 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 These going before tarried 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 away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where we abode 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 upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them, ready to depart on the next day; and continued his speech 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 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they 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 in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, having fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell from the third loft, 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 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life 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 When he had come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so 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 young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

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

13 And we went before to a ship, and sailed to Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so he had appointed, intending 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 met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

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

15 And we sailed from there, and came the next day opposite Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to 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 by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hastened, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

[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 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

[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 had come to him, he said to them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

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 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and trials, which befell me by the lying in wait 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 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

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

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, behold, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

“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 Except that the Holy Spirit testifieth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions 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 none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace 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, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

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 Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

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 shunned to declare to you all the counsel of God.

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

28 Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

[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 For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the 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 Also from your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

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 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

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 And now, brethren, I commend 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 them who are sanctified.

“[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 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

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

34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered to my necessities, and to them that were with me.

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

35 I have shown you all things, that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, It is more blessed 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 when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

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

37 And they all wept bitterly, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,

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

38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to 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.