Moff ACTs Chapter 20

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20 When the tumult had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them; he then took leave of them and went his way to Macedonia. 2 After passing through the districts of Macedonia and encouraging the people at length, he came to Greece, 3 where he spent three months. Just as he was on the point of sailing for Syria, the Jews laid a plot against him. He therefore resolved to return through Macedonia. 4 His company as far as Asia consisted of Sopater of Beroea (the son of Pyrrhus), Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, Timotheus, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.

5 They went on to wait for us at Troas, 6 while we sailed from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and joined them five days later at Troas. There we spent seven days. 7 On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread; Paul addressed them, as he was to leave next day, and he prolonged his address till midnight 8 (there were plenty of lamps in the upper room where we met). 9 In the window sat a young man called Eutychus, and as Paul's address went on and on, he got overcome with drowsiness, went fast asleep, and fell from the third storey. He was picked up a corpse, 10 but Paul went downstairs, threw himself upon him, and embraced him. "Do not lament," he said, "the life is still in him." 11 Then he went upstairs, broke bread, and ate; finally, after conversing awhile with them till the dawn, he went away. 12 As for the lad, they took him away alive, much to their relief. 13 Now we had gone on beforehand to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. This was his own arrangement, for he intended to travel by land. 14 So when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and got to Mitylene. 15 Sailing thence on the following day we arrived off Chios; next day we crossed over to Samos, and [after stopping at Trogyllium] we went on next day to Miletus. 16 This was because Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, to avoid any loss of time in Asia; he wanted to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the presbyters of the church. 18 When they came to him, he said, "You know quite well how I lived among you all the time ever since I set foot in Asia, 19 how I served the Lord in all humility, with many a tear and many a trial which I encountered owing to the plots of the Jews, 20 how I never shrank from letting you know anything for your good, or from teaching you alike in public and from house to house, 21 bearing my testimony, both to Jews and Greeks, of repentance before God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 Now here I go to Jerusalem under the binding force of the Spirit. What will befall me there, I do not know. 23 Only, I know this, that in town after town the holy Spirit testifies to me that bonds and troubles are awaiting me. 24 But then, I set no value on my own life as compared with the joy of finishing my course and fulfilling the commission I received from the Lord Jesus to attest the gospel of the grace of God. 25 I know to-day that not one of you will ever see my face again — not one of you among whom I moved as I preached the Reign. 26 Therefore do I protest before you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you; 27 I never shrank from letting you know the entire purpose of God. 28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you guardians; shepherd the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his own blood. 29 I know that when I am gone, fierce wolves will get in among you, and they will not spare the flock; yes. 30 and men of your own number will arise with perversions of the truth to draw the disciples after them. 31 So be on the alert, remember how for three whole years I never ceased night and day to watch over each one of you with tears. 32 And now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace; he is able to upbuild you and give you your inheritance among all the consecrated. 33 Silver, gold, or apparel I never coveted; 34 you know yourselves how these hands of mine provided everything for my own needs and for my companions. 35 I showed you how this was the way to work hard and succour the needy, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'To give is happier than to get.'"

36 With these words he knelt down and prayed beside them all. 37 They all broke into loud lamentation and falling upon the neck of Paul kissed him fondly, 38 sorrowing chiefly because he told them they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

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