1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took
leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia. 2 When he had gone
through those parts, and had encouraged them with many words, he came into
Greece. 3 When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made
against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to
return through Macedonia. 4 These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater
of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe;
Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 But these had gone ahead,
and were waiting for us at Troas. 6 We sailed away from Philippi after the
days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we
stayed seven days.
7 On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together
to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day,
and continued his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lights in the
upper chamber where we*1 were
gathered together. 9 A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window,
weighed down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down
by his sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.
10 Paul went down, and fell upon him, and embracing him said, “Don’t be
troubled, for his life is in him.”
11 When he had gone up, and had broken bread, and eaten, and had talked
with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed. 12 They
brought the boy in alive, and were not a little comforted.
13 But we who went ahead to the ship set sail for Assos, intending to take
Paul aboard there, for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land.
14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and came to Mitylene.
15 Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next
day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came
to Miletus. 16 For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might
not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for
him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of
the assembly. 18 When they had come to him, he said to them, “You
yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with
you all the time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears,
and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews; 20 how I
didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching
you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to
Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.*2 22 Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not
knowing what will happen to me there; 23 except that the Holy Spirit
testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.
24 But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so
that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from
the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about
preaching the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I
testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all men, 27 for
I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Take
heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord
and*3 God which he purchased with his own
blood. 29 For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in
among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will arise from among your own
selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I
didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. 32 Now,
brothers,*4 I
entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up,
and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I
coveted no one’s silver, or gold, or clothing. 34 You yourselves know
that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me.
35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to
help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself
said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them
all. 37 They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
38 sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that
they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
1 TR reads “they” instead of “we” 2 TR adds
“Christ” 3 TR, NU omit “the Lord and” 4 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows
may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
World English Bible - Public Domain |
|
|