Acts 20

1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. After encouraging them, he said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.

2He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people. Finally, he arrived in Greece,

3He stayed there three months. Just as he was about to sail for Syria, he learned that some Jews had made a plan against him. So he decided to go back through Macedonia.

4He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

5These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas.

6But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Five days later, we joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

7On the first day of the week, we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people. Because he planned to leave the next day, he kept on talking until midnight.

8There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.

9A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window. He was falling into a deep sleep as Paul kept talking. When he was fast asleep, he fell to the ground from the third floor. They picked him up, and he was dead.

10Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and put his arms around him. He said: Do not be afraid. He is alive!

11Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.

12The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

13We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot.

14When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.

15The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.

16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so he would not spend time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.

18When they arrived, he said to them: You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.

19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears. I went through hard times because of the plots the Jews made against me.

20You know that I never held back from preaching anything that would help you. I taught you in public and from house to house.

21I have told both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

22And now the Spirit is compelling me to go to Jerusalem. I do not know what will happen to me there.

23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

24But I do not consider my life worth anything to me. My only goal is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus gave me — the task of telling people the good news of God's grace.

25Now I know that none of you, among whom I have preached about the kingdom, will ever see me again.

26So today I tell you that I am not responsible for what happens to any of you.

27For I never held back from telling you everything God wants you to know.

28Watch over yourselves and over all the group of believers the Holy Spirit has put you in charge of. Be like shepherds to the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.

29I know that after I leave, fierce men, like wolves, will come in among you. They will not spare the flock.

30Even from among you, some will rise up and twist the truth. They will do this to draw away disciples after themselves.

31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

32Now I give you over to God and to the word of His grace. This word can build you up and give you a share among all those who are set apart for Him.

33I have not wanted anyone's silver or gold or clothing.

34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.

35In everything I did, I showed you that we must work hard like this to help the weak. Remember the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive.

36When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

37They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.

38What made them saddest was that Paul had said they would never see his face again. Then they went with him to the ship.