Montgomery - Acts - 20

20:1  After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and, after embracing them, bade them farewell, and started for Macedonia.

20:2  And when he had passed through those districts and encouraged the disciples in many addresses, he came into Greece where he spent three months.

20:3  Just as he was about to set sail for Syria, the Jews laid a plot against him, and he determined to return through Macedonia.

20:4  There accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.

20:5  Now these had gone on, and were awaiting us at Troas;

20:6  but we ourselves set sail from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and joined them five days later at Troas. There we remained for a week.

20:7  On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread, and Paul, who was going away the next morning, began preaching to them, and prolonged his discourse until midnight.

20:8  Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled,

20:9  and a young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window, overborne by deep sleep, while Paul continued to preach at length. Overcome at last by sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.

20:10  Then Paul went down, threw himself upon him, and embracing him, said. "Do not lament; his life is still in him."

20:11  Then he went upstairs again, broke bread and took some food, and after talking with them a long time, even until daybreak, he left them.

20:12  They had taken the lad home alive, and were not a little comforted.

20:13  The rest of us going before to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for so he had appointed, because he intended to go by land.

20:14  And when he met us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

20:15  We sailed from thence, and arrived next day off Chios; and the day after we touched at Samos; and the following day we came to Mitylene.

20:16  For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, so as not to spend time in Asia, for he was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if it were possible, by the day of Pentecost.

20:17  From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church to come to him;

20:18  and when they arrived, he said to them. "You yourselves know quite well, how I lived among you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia,

20:19  "serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and amid trials that befell me through the plots of the Jews.

20:20  "You know that I never shrank from declaring to you anything that was profitable, nor from teaching you publicity and in your homes,

20:21  testifying both to Jews and Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

20:22  And now I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what will befall me there,

20:23  except that in city after city the Holy Spirit is warning me that bonds and afflictions are awaiting me.

20:24  But I hold not my life of any account, as dear unto myself, if only I may run my race, and accomplish the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to attest the gospel of the grace of God.

20:25  And now I know that not one of you among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see my face again.

20:26  So I testify to you this day that I am clear from the blood of all men;

20:27  I never shrank from telling you the whole counsel of God.

20:28  Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, and be shepherds of the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood.

20:29  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock;

20:30  and that from among your own number, men will arise, perverting the truth, to draw away the disciples after them.

20:31  So be on guard; and remember that for three years I ceased not to admonish you all, night and day, even with tears.

20:32  "And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace. He is able to build you up, and to give you your inheritance among all those who are consecrated.

20:33  "No man’s silver or gold of clothing did I ever covet.

20:34  "You yourselves know how these hands of mine provided for my needs, and those of my companions.

20:35  "In all things I have set you an example, how that so toiling, you ought to help the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

20:36  When he had so said, Paul kneeled down, and prayed with them.

20:37  And they all began, with loud lamentations, to throw their arms about his neck, and to kiss him lovingly, again and again,

20:38  sorrowing most of all for the words that he had spoken, that after that day they should look upon his face no more. And they began to escort him to the ship.