Acts 20

Through Macedonia and Greece

1 After the riot died down, Paul called the disciples together, encouraged them, said his goodbyes, and bounced to Macedonia.

2 He rolled through the region, building people up with his words, and eventually ended up in Greece.

3 He stayed there three months, but when he found out some Jews were plotting on him, he decided to take a detour back through Macedonia instead of sailing directly to Syria.

4 Some of Paul’s crew rolled with him: Sopater from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.

5 They went ahead and waited for Paul at Troas.

6 After the Festival of Unleavened Bread, Paul and the rest of the squad sailed from Philippi and met up with them in Troas, where they stayed for seven days.

Eutychus Raised

7 On the first day of the week, they gathered to break bread. Paul started preaching and kept going until midnight because he was about to leave the next day.

8 They were in an upstairs room, and it was lit, literally. Lamps were everywhere.

9 A young dude named Eutychus was sitting by the window. Paul’s preaching went on and on, and Eutychus dozed off, fell out of the window from the third floor, and hit the ground dead.

10 Paul rushed down, threw himself on the guy, and said, “Do not trip; he is alive!”

11 Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and kept talking until dawn. Then he left.

12 Meanwhile, the squad took Eutychus home, and everybody was hyped that he was alive.

13 The team sailed to Assos, where Paul had planned to meet them since he decided to walk there.

14 When he met up with them in Assos, they picked him up and sailed to Mitylene.

15 The next day, they cruised past Chios, stopped at Samos, and then arrived at Miletus.

16 Paul had decided to skip Ephesus because he did not want to spend too much time in Asia. He was in a rush to get to Jerusalem by Pentecost if possible.

Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

17 From Miletus, Paul sent word to the elders of the church in Ephesus to come meet him.

18 When they arrived, he told them, “You all know how I have been rolling since day one when I set foot in Asia.

19 I served the Lord with humility, tears, and trials caused by those hating Jews.

20 I did not hold back anything that would help you all. I taught publicly and in your homes.

21 I told both Jews and Greeks to turn to God and trust in Jesus.

22 Now I am headed to Jerusalem, not knowing what is going to happen to me there.

23 But the Holy Spirit keeps warning me that jail and hardships are waiting.

24 But I am not tripping. My life is not worth anything unless I finish the mission and testify about God’s grace.

25 I know none of you all I preached to about the kingdom will see me again.

26 So I am telling you now, I am clean. Nobody is blood is on my hands.

27 I gave you the whole truth about God.

28 Take care of yourselves and the flock God has put you over. Be shepherds of His church, bought with His blood.

29 I know after I leave, wolves will come in and wreck the flock.

30 Even some of your own people will twist the truth to draw disciples after them.

31 So stay on guard! Remember, I warned you all for three years straight, with tears.

32 I am leaving you in God’s hands and His word of grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among His people.

33 I never wanted anyone’s silver, gold, or clothes.

34 You all know I worked with my own hands to cover my needs and my crew’s.

35 I have shown you that by working hard, we should help the weak and remember what Jesus said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 After he said this, Paul knelt down and prayed with them all.

37 They cried like crazy, hugged him, and kissed him.

38 They were especially sad because he said they would not see him again. Then they walked him to the ship.