The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 20 -

Then, after the tumult ceased, Paul, calling the disciples to himself and exhorting them, said farewell. And he set out, so that he might go into Macedonia.

And when he had walked through those areas and had exhorted them with many sermons, he went into Greece.

After he had spent three months there, treacheries were planned against him by the Jews, just as he was about to sail into Syria. And having been advised of this, he return through Macedonia.

Now those accompanying him were Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus from Beroea; and also the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and also Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.

These, after they had gone ahead, waited for us at Troas.

Yet truly, we sailed from Philippi, after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we went to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

Eutychus Revived at Troas

(2 Kings 4:18–37)

Then, on the first Sabbath, when we had assembled together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to set out the next day. But he prolonged his sermon into the middle of the night. The expression “first Sabbath” refers to Easter Sunday, the commemoration of the first Christian Sabbath. In the year in question, Easter Sunday was celebrated some 12 (5 + 7) days or more after “the days of Unleavened Bread”, which refers to Passover. It is unclear how Easter Sunday was calculated at that early time in the Church, but it did not always coincide with Passover.(a)

Now there were plenty of lamps in the upper room, where we were gathered.

And a certain adolescent named Eutychus, sitting on the window sill, was being weighed down by a heavy drowsiness (for Paul was preaching at length). Then, as he went to sleep, he fell from the third floor room downward. And when he was lifted up, he was dead.

When Paul had gone down to him, he laid himself over him and, embracing him, said, “Do not worry, for his soul is still within him.”

And so, going up, and breaking bread, and eating, and having spoken well on until daylight, he then set out.

Now they had brought the boy in alive, and they were more than a little consoled.

From Troas to Miletus

Then we climbed aboard the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take in Paul. For so he himself had decided, since he was making the journey by land.

And when he had joined us at Assos, we took him in, and we went to Mitylene.

And sailing from there, on the following day, we arrived opposite Chios. And next we landed at Samos. And on the following day we went to Miletus.

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not be delayed in Asia. For he was hurrying so that, if it were possible for him, he might observe the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesians

Then, sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called those greater by birth in the church.

And when they had come to him and were together, he said to them: “You know that from the first day when I entered into Asia, I have been with you, for the entire time, in this manner:

serving the Lord, with all humility and despite the tears and trials which befell me from the treacheries of the Jews,

how I held back nothing that was of value, how well I have preached to you, and that I have taught you publicly and throughout the houses,

testifying both to Jews and to Gentiles about repentance in God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

And now, behold, being obliged in spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,

except that the Holy Spirit, throughout every city, has cautioned me, saying that chains and tribulations await me at Jerusalem.

But I dread none of these things. Neither do I consider my life to be more precious because it is my own, provided that in some way I may complete my own course and that of the ministry of the Word, which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.

And now, behold, I know that you will no longer see my face, all of you among whom I have traveled, preaching the kingdom of God.

For this reason, I call you as witnesses on this very day: that I am clean from the blood of all.

For I have not turned aside in the least from announcing every counsel of God to you.

Take care of yourselves and of the entire flock, over which the Holy Spirit has stationed you as Bishops to rule the Church of God, which he has purchased by his own blood.

I know that after my departure ravenous wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock.

And from among yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things in order to entice disciples after them.

Because of this, be vigilant, retaining in memory that throughout three years I did not cease, night and day, with tears, to admonish each and every one of you.

And now, I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace. He has the power to build up, and to give an inheritance to all who are sanctified.

I have coveted neither silver and gold, nor apparel,

as you yourselves know. For that which was needed by me and by those who are with me, these hands have provided.

I have revealed all things to you, because by laboring in this way, it is necessary 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.’ ”

And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with all of them.

Then a great weeping occurred among them all. And, falling upon the neck of Paul, they kissed him,

being grieved most of all over the word which he had said, that they would never see his face again. And they brought him to the ship.

Footnotes

(a)20:7 And on the first day of the week:Here St. Chrysostom and many other interpreters of the scripture explain, that the Christians even at this time, must have changed the sabbath into the first day of the week, (the Lord’s day,) as all Christians now keep it. This change was undoubtedly made by the authority of the church; hence the exercise of the power, which Christ had given to her: for he is Lord of the sabbath.(Challoner)

After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.

When he had gone through those parts and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece.

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.

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.

But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas.

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.

Eutychus Revived at Troas

(2 Kings 4:18–37)

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.

There were many lights in the upper room where we

(a)

were gathered together.

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 floor and was taken up dead.

Paul went down and fell upon him, and embracing him said, “Don’t be troubled, for his life is in him.”

When he had gone up, had broken bread and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.

They brought the boy in alive, and were greatly comforted.

From Troas to Miletus

But we, going 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.

When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and came to Mitylene.

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.

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.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesians

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to himself the elders of the assembly.

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,

serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;

how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,

testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.(b)

Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there;

except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.

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 Good News of the grace of God.

“Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more.

Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,

for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

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

(c)

God which he purchased with his own blood.

For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.

Now, brothers,(d) 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.

I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing.

You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me.

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.’ ”

When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,

sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Footnotes

(a)20:8 TR reads “they” instead of “we”

(b)20:21 TR adds “Christ”

(d)20:32 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”