Chapter 20
Journey to Macedonia and Greece. 1 When the disturbance was
over, Paul had the disciples summoned and, after encouraging them, he bade them
farewell and set out on his journey to Macedonia. 2 As he traveled throughout
those regions, he provided many words of encouragement for them. Then he
arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. But when a plot was made
against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to
return by way of Macedonia.
Return to Troas. 4 Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus, from Beroea,
accompanied him, as did Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from
Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus, and Trophimus from Asia 5 who went on ahead and
waited for us[a] at Troas. 6 We sailed from Philippi after the feast of
Unleavened Bread,[b] and rejoined them five days later in Troas, where we spent
a week.
Eutychus Restored to Life. 7 On the first day of the week[c]
when we gathered to break bread, Paul spoke to them because he was going to
leave the next day, and he kept on speaking until midnight. 8 There were many
lamps in the upstairs room where we were gathered, 9 and a young man named
Eutychus who was sitting on the window sill was sinking into a deep sleep as
Paul talked on and on. Once overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third
story and when he was picked up, he was dead. 10 Paul went down,[d] threw
himself upon him, and said as he embraced him, “Don’t be alarmed; there is life
in him.” 11 Then he returned upstairs, broke the bread, and ate; after a long
conversation that lasted until daybreak, he departed. 12 And they took the boy
away alive and were immeasurably comforted.
Journey to Miletus. 13 We went ahead to the ship and set
sail for Assos where we were to take Paul on board, as he had arranged since
he was going overland. 14 When he met us in Assos, we took him aboard and went
on to Mitylene. 15 We sailed away from there on the next day and reached a
point off Chios, and a day later we reached Samos, and on the following day, we
arrived at Miletus. 16 [e]Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus in order not to
lose time in the province of Asia, for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if
at all possible, for the day of Pentecost.
Paul’s Farewell Speech at Miletus. 17 From Miletus he had
the presbyters of the church at Ephesus summoned. 18 When they came to him, he
addressed them, “You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I
first came to the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with all humility and
with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, 20
and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from
teaching you in public or in your homes. 21 I earnestly bore witness for both
Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 But
now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me
there I do not know, 23 except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit
has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. 24 Yet I consider my life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry
that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God’s
grace.
25 “But now I know that none of you to whom I preached the
kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again. 26 And so I solemnly
declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,
27 for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God. 28 Keep
watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has
appointed you overseers,[f] in which you tend the church of God that he
acquired with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves
will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. 30 And from your own
group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away
after them. 31 So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears. 32 And now I commend you to
God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance
among all who are consecrated. 33 I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold
or clothing. 34 You know well that these very hands have served my needs and my
companions. 35 In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we
must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself
said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed
with them all. 37 They were all weeping loudly as they threw their arms around
Paul and kissed him, 38 for they were deeply distressed that he had said that
they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.
Footnotes
20:5 The second “we-section” of Acts begins here. See note
on Acts 16:10–17.
20:6 Feast of Unleavened Bread: see note on Lk 22:1.
20:7 The first day of the week: the day after the sabbath
and the first day of the Jewish week, apparently chosen originally by the
Jerusalem community for the celebration of the liturgy of the Eucharist in
order to relate it to the resurrection of Christ.
20:10 The action of Paul in throwing himself upon the dead
boy recalls that of Elijah in 1 Kgs 17:21 where the son of the widow of
Zarephath is revived and that of Elisha in 2 Kgs 4:34 where the Shunammite
woman’s son is restored to life.
20:16–35 Apparently aware of difficulties at Ephesus and neighboring
areas, Paul calls the presbyters together at Miletus, about thirty miles from
Ephesus. He reminds them of his dedication to the gospel (Acts 20:18–21),
speaks of what he is about to suffer for the gospel (Acts 20:22–27), and
admonishes them to guard the community against false prophets, sure to arise
upon his departure (Acts 20:28–31). He concludes by citing a saying of Jesus
(Acts 20:35) not recorded in the gospel tradition. Luke presents this farewell
to the Ephesian presbyters as Paul’s last will and testament.
20:28 Overseers: see note on Phil 1:1. The church of God:
because the clause “that he acquired with his own blood” following “the church
of God” suggests that “his own blood” refers to God’s blood, some early
copyists changed “the church of God” to “the church of the Lord.” Some prefer
the translation “acquired with the blood of his own,” i.e., Christ.
Source Catholic Bible: New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)
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