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Acts 20

1

And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

2

And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

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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.

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And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5

These going before tarried for us at Troas.

6

And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

7

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

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8

And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

9

And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

10

And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

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When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

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12

And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

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13

And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

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And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

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And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.

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For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

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

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

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Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

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And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

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

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

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Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

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But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

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And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

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Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

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For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

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

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For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

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Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

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

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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 which are sanctified.

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

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

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I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

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And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

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

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Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

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Acts 20

The raising of Eutychus at Troas—a young man overcome by sleep during Paul's extended preaching, falling from a third-story window, and being raised by Paul's embrace—demonstrates the apostolic authority over death and the gospel's power to sustain believers even in tragedy, and Paul continues preaching until dawn. Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus is the most personal and intimate speech in Acts: Paul recalls his service in Asia, declares that he is bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem not knowing what will happen there, states that the Holy Spirit testifies that chains and hardships await him, and asserts that he has coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes, establishing the apostle's integrity and the vicissitudes of the mission. The charge to watch over the flock and protect it from savage wolves (false teachers) introduces the theme of internal threat to the gospel's purity, and Paul's assertion that it is more blessed to give than to receive echoes Jesus's teaching and encapsulates the Spirit-empowered life's inverted values. Paul's final farewell—hugging the elders and weeping—portrays apostolic intimacy and vulnerability, yet also the conviction that the Lord will sustain his people and fulfill his purposes through their faithfulness.

Acts 20:11

Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate — After talking until daylight, he left — The meal-resumption (eucharistic re-gathering) and continued discourse until dawn mark Paul's pastoral engagement even amid crisis. The continuous teaching reveals missionary dedication.

Acts 20:12

The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted (parakaleō, to comfort or exhort) — Eutychus's recovery and the community's consolation frame the Troas stop as divine vindication of Paul's apostolic presence.

Acts 20:13

We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard — He had decided to go there on foot — Paul's foot-journey to Assos while companions sail suggests solitary prayer or reflection. The routing choices reveal his control of the itinerary.

Acts 20:14

When he joined us at Assos, we took him aboard and went to Mitylene — The rendezvous at Assos reincorporates Paul; Mitylene (on Lesbos) becomes the overnight stop.

Acts 20:1

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia — Paul's post-riot encouragement (parakaleō, to exhort or comfort) stabilizes the Ephesian community. The departure marks the end of the extended Asian ministry.

Acts 20:2

He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece — Greece probably denotes Corinth; his three-month residence there (cf. Romans 16:23, Corinthian hospitality) permits extended pastoral presence.

Acts 20:3

where he stayed three months — Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia — Jewish opposition resurfaces; the conspiracy (epiboulē, plot or ambush) against Paul forces route modification. Flight through Macedonia avoids the Syrian-bound sea route's danger.

Acts 20:4

He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe and Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia — Luke's detailed companion list (perhaps his sources' documentation) includes representatives from Paul's missionary circuit. The presence of Gaius 'from Derbe' (not 'of Derbe') may indicate relocated community members.

Acts 20:5

These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas — The first-person 'us' indicates Luke's presence in this section; he travels with Paul's entourage.

Acts 20:6

But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days — The Passover/Unleavened Bread festival timing (Pesach) marks the journey's Jewish liturgical calendar. Five days' sailing to Troas and seven days' residence permit recovery and community gathering.

Acts 20:7

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread (hē kyriakē, the Lord's day; literally 'the Lord's day' referring to Sunday). Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight — The Sunday assembly for eucharist (breaking bread, klasis artou) reflects emerging Christian weekly gathering, distinct from Jewish Sabbath. Paul's extended discourse (dialegō, to reason or discuss) until midnight suggests homiletical exuberance.

Acts 20:8

There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting — The lamp-lighting (lychnia, lampstand) suggests evening/night gathering in a private house-church. The atmosphere is intimate, cramped.

Acts 20:9

Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into sleep as Paul talked on and on — Finally, he sank into a deep sleep and fell from the third story — His name (Eutychus = 'fortunate') creates ironic contrast with his peril. The tumbling from three stories (the Greek house's highest level) suggests potentially fatal impact.

Acts 20:10

Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him — 'Don't be alarmed,' he said. 'He's alive!' — Paul's prostration (epistrepsis, likely a reverential gesture) and embrace mirror Elijah's resuscitation of the widow's son (1 Kings 17:21) and Peter's with Dorcas (9:40). The assurance ('He's alive') precedes full recovery.

Acts 20:15

The 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 — The precise geographical notation (Chios, Samos, Miletus) demonstrates Luke's navigational knowledge or source documentation. Miletus, avoiding nearby Ephesus, becomes the assembly point.

Acts 20:16

Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost — The intentional Ephesus-avoidance, despite earlier deep investment there, signals time-consciousness. The Pentecost deadline (pentekoste) marks eschatological urgency.

Acts 20:17

From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church — The summoning of 'elders' (presbyteroi) to Miletus suggests institutional development: designated leadership bodies now exist. Paul's address to these elders becomes his sole speech to believers.

Acts 20:18

When 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' — Paul's opening invokes personal witness (oida, you know from observation): his apostolic conduct has been transparently visible. Accountability to leadership and community becomes foundational claim.

Acts 20:19

'I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and with trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews' — The triad—humility (tapeinophrosyne), tears, and trials (peirasmos)—depicts apostolic vulnerability. Tears (dakrya) suggest emotional investment; trials through Jewish opposition persist despite Gentile expansion.

Acts 20:20

'You know that I have not hesitated to proclaim anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house — Paul's both/and proclamation—public (demosios, in public) and domestic (kat' oikon, house to house)—demonstrates comprehensive missionary reach. All necessary doctrine has been taught; no profitable matter withheld.

Acts 20:21

'I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus' — The core kerygma combines metanoia (turning toward God through repentance) and pistis (faith in Christ). The both/and inclusivity (Jews and Greeks) marks the gospel's universal address.

Acts 20:22

'And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there' — The divine compulsion (deo, I am bound or pressed; literally 'it is necessary for me') overrides uncertainty about Jerusalem's reception. The Spirit drives Paul toward his apparent death.

Acts 20:23

'I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships await me' — The Spirit's consistent warning (martyreō, bearing witness to) across multiple cities foreshadows suffering. Yet the warnings do not deter the journey, suggesting Paul's acceptance of martyrdom.

Acts 20:24

'However, I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I may finish the race and complete the task (ergon, work) the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace' — Paul's valuation of life (psuche) as worthless compared to completing the apostolic mission (ergon) reveals missionary prioritization: completion of the gospel's proclamation supersedes survival.

Acts 20:25

'Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see my face again' — The farewell declaration ('you will never see my face again') suggests Paul's premonition of impending death. Yet the affirmation of kingdom-preaching's completion allows gracious closure.

Acts 20:26

'Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all of you' — The solemn declaration (diamarturomai, bearing solemn witness) of blood-innocence echoes 18:6. Paul's conscience is clear: he has withheld no saving doctrine; their potential condemnation rests on their reception, not his procrastination.

Acts 20:27

'For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you all the counsel of God (to bouleuma, the purpose/plan of God)' — Comprehensive proclamation of God's salvific design absolves Paul of judgment's responsibility. He has fully disclosed the divine intention.

Acts 20:28

'Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (episkopos, bishops). Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood' — The governance language (episkopos, shepherd, poimainō) establishes pastoral responsibility. The flock's purchase through Christ's blood (aima Christou) sacralizes the church and binds leadership to sacrificial stewardship.

Acts 20:29

'I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock' — Paul's wolf-metaphor (lykos, wolf; harsh, fierce) signals false teachers' imminent arrival. The pastoral warning assumes post-apostolic dangers requiring vigilant eldership.

Acts 20:30

'Even from your own number some will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them' — Internally-arising deceivers (ek tōn idion, from among yourselves) prove more dangerous than external threats. The perversion of truth (diastrepō, to distort) for personal following suggests proto-Gnostic or charismatic aberrations.

Acts 20:31

'So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears' — The three-year Ephesus pastorate's intensive warning (nouthetesai, to admonish) establishes precedent; tears accompany urgency. Continuity of vigilant teaching is required.

Acts 20:32

'Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified' — The commendation (paratithēmi, to entrust) to God and his grace-word (logos tēs charitos) comprises Paul's ultimate legacy. The word itself possesses building power (oikodomeō, to build up) and grants inheritance (klēronomia) among the sanctified.

Acts 20:33

'I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing' — Paul's explicit disavowal of covetousness (argyros, silver; chrysion, gold) distinguishes apostolic integrity from mercenary motives. The renunciation of material gain establishes moral authority.

Acts 20:34

'You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions' — Self-referential labor ('these hands') grounds apostolic claims in demonstrable practice. Tentmaking finances both personal sustenance and communal care.

Acts 20:35

'In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive' — The logia Kyriou (saying of the Lord) appears only here in Acts; its authenticity and source remain textually disputed, yet it crystallizes Christian ethos: generative giving supersedes acquisitive receiving. Labor sanctifies not merely survival but sacrificial care.

Acts 20:36

When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed — The kneeling posture (gonypetō, to kneel) signals humility and vulnerability; prayer unites leadership in spiritual solidarity. The collective prayer anticipates separation.

Acts 20:37

They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him — The physical embrace and tears (dakrya) demonstrate relational depth transcending institutional hierarchy. Grief precedes anticipated separation by death.

Acts 20:38

What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again — Then they accompanied him to the ship — The repeated farewell motif ('never see his face again') penetrates the consciousness profoundly. The accompaniment to ship marks the liminal moment between community and departure, presence and absence.