1   When the disturbance had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-bye and set out on his journey

Paul leads the advance to Macedonia. 2   He travelled through those parts of the country, often speaking words of encouragement to the Christians there, and so came into Greece. 3   When he had spent three months there and was on the point of embarking for Syria, a plot was laid against him by the Jews, so he decided to return by way of Macedonia. 4   He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus, from Beroea, the Thessalonians Aristarchus and Secundus, Gaius the Doberian ^note and Timothy, and the Asians Tychicus and Trophimus. 5   These went ahead and waited for us at Troas; 6   we ourselves set sail from Philippi after the Passover season, ^note and in five days reached them at Troas, where we spent a week.

7   On the Saturday night, in our assembly for the breaking of bread, Paul, who was to leave next day, addressed them, and went on speaking until midnight. 8   Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled; 9   and a youth named Eutychus, who was sitting on the window-ledge, grew more and more sleepy as Paul went on talking. At last he was completely overcome by sleep, fell from the third storey to the ground, and was picked up for dead. 10   Paul went down, threw himself upon him, seizing him in his arms, and said to them, ‘Stop this commotion; there is still life in him.’ 11   He then went upstairs, broke bread and ate, and after much conversation, which lasted until dawn, he departed. 12   And they took the boy away alive and were immensely comforted.

13   We went ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement, as he was going to travel by road. 14   When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15   Next day we sailed from there and arrived opposite Chios, and on the second day we made Samos. On the following day ^note we reached Miletus. 16   For Paul had decided to pass by Ephesus and so avoid having to spend time in the province of Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if he possibly could, on the day of Pentecost. 17   He did, however, send from Miletus to Ephesus and summon the elders of the congregation; 18   and when they joined him, he spoke as follows:

‘You know how, from the day that I first set foot in the province of Asia, 19   for the whole time that I was with you, I served the Lord

Paul leads the advance in all humility amid the sorrows and trials that came upon me through the machinations of the Jews. 20   You know that I kept back nothing that was for your good: I delivered the message to you; I taught you, in public and in your homes; 21   with Jews and Gentiles alike I insisted on repentance before God and trust in our Lord Jesus. 22   And now, as you see, I am on my way to Jerusalem, under the constraint of the Spirit. ^note 23   Of what will befall me there I know nothing, except that in city after city the Holy Spirit assures me that imprisonment and hardships await me. 24   For myself, I set no store by life; I only want to finish the race, and complete the task which the Lord Jesus assigned to me, of bearing my testimony to the gospel of God's grace.

25   ‘One word more: I have gone about among you proclaiming the Kingdom, but now I know that none of you will see my face again. 26   That being so, I here and now declare that no man's fate can be laid at my door; 27   for I have kept back nothing; I have disclosed to you the whole purpose of God. 28   Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has given you charge, as shepherds of the church of the Lord, ^note which he won for himself by his own blood. ^note 29   I know that when I am gone, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30   Even from your own body there will be men coming forward who will distort the truth to induce the disciples to break away and follow them. 31   So be on the alert; remember how for three years, night and day, I never ceased to counsel each of you, and how I wept over you.

32   ‘And now I commend you to God and to his gracious word, which has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all who are dedicated to him. 33   I have not wanted anyone's money or clothes for myself; 34   you all know that these hands of mine earned enough for the needs of myself and my companions. 35   I showed you that it is our duty to help the weak in this way, by hard work, and that we should keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, “Happiness lies more in giving than in receiving.”’

36   As he finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. 37   Then there were loud cries of sorrow from them all, as they folded Paul in their arms and kissed him. 38   What distressed them most was his saying that they would never see his face again. So they escorted him to his ship.

Paul leads the advance

Previous section

Next section