Acts 20

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

1The noisy trouble in the city stopped. Then Paul sent for the followers of Jesus. He hugged them, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia.

2And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

2He traveled through that area. He said many things to help the people stay strong. Then he came to Greece.

3And 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.

3He stayed in Greece for three months. He was about to sail to Syria. But some Jewish leaders made a secret plan to hurt him. So he chose to go back through Macedonia instead.

4And 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.

4Some men traveled with Paul toward Asia. Sopater from Berea went with him. So did Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica. Gaius from Derbe and Timothy went too. Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia went as well.

5These going before tarried for us at Troas.

5These men went on ahead of us. They waited for us in the city of Troas.

6And 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.

6We sailed from Philippi after a Jewish holiday called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Five days later we met the others in Troas. We stayed there seven days.

7And 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.

7On Sunday, the first day of the week, we met to share a meal. Paul was leaving the next day, so he talked to the people. He kept talking until midnight.

NoteTo break bread means to share a meal together. The first day of the week is Sunday.

8And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

8Many lamps were burning in the upstairs room where we were meeting.

9And 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.

9A young man named Eutychus sat in an open window. Paul talked on and on. Eutychus fell into a deep sleep. He fell from the third floor to the ground. When they picked him up, he was dead.

10And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

10Paul went downstairs. He lay down on the young man and held him. Paul said, do not be upset. He is alive.

11When 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.

11Paul went back upstairs. He broke the bread and ate. He talked with them until the sun came up. Then he left.

12And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

12They took the young man home alive. That made them feel much better.

13And 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.

13We went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos. We were going to pick Paul up there. He had planned it that way, because he wanted to walk.

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

14Paul met us at Assos. We took him onto the ship and went on to Mitylene.

15And 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.

15We sailed on from there. The next day we came near the island of Chios. The day after that we reached Samos and stopped at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus.

16For 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.

16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus. He did not want to spend time in Asia. He was in a hurry. He hoped to reach Jerusalem in time for Pentecost, a Jewish holiday.

17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

17From Miletus, Paul sent a message to Ephesus. He asked the elders, the leaders of the church there, to come to him.

18And 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,

18When they came, he said to them: You know how I lived with you. You saw it from the first day I came to Asia.

19Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

19I served the Lord in a humble way, and I cried many tears. I went through hard times because some Jewish leaders made secret plans against me.

20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

20I did not hold back anything that would help you. I taught you in public and in your homes.

21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

21I told the same thing to Jews and to Greeks. Turn away from wrong and turn back to God. Trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.

22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

22Now the Holy Spirit is leading me to Jerusalem, and I must go. I do not know what will happen to me there.

23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

23I know only this. In every city the Holy Spirit warns me. Chains and hard troubles are waiting for me.

24But 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.

24But none of that stops me. My own life is not too precious to me. I only want to finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me, and finish it with joy. My work is to tell people the good news about God's kindness.

25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

25I have gone among all of you telling about God's kingdom. Now I know that none of you will see my face again.

26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

26So today I tell you plainly. I am not guilty of anyone's blood.

NoteI am not guilty of anyone's blood was an old way of saying, I did my whole job. Paul told everyone the truth, so no one can blame him.

27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

27I did not hold back. I told you everything God wants people to know.

28Take 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.

28Watch over yourselves, and watch over all the people. The Holy Spirit made you the leaders who care for them. Take care of God's church, the way a shepherd takes care of sheep. God bought this church with his own blood.

29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

29I know what will happen after I go. Men like hungry wolves will come in among you. They will hurt God's people and show no kindness.

30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

30Some men from your own group will do this too. They will twist the truth. They want followers of their own.

31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

31So stay awake and watch. Remember that for three years I never stopped warning you. I warned each one of you, night and day, with tears.

32And 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.

32Now, my friends, I leave you in God's care. I leave you with his kind message. That message can make you strong. It can give you a share of what God gives to all his holy people.

33I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

33I never wanted anyone's silver or gold or clothing.

34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

34You know that I worked with these hands of mine. I paid for what I needed, and for my friends too.

35I 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.

35I showed you how to live. Work hard like this, and help people who are weak. Remember what the Lord Jesus said: you are happier when you give than when you get.

36And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

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

37And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,

37They all cried hard. They put their arms around Paul and kissed him.

38Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

38One thing made them saddest of all. Paul had said they would never see his face again. Then they walked with him to the ship.