Travels Through Macedonia and Greece
Study note
After the Ephesian riot subsides, Paul encourages the disciples and travels through Macedonia to Greece, where he stays three months. When a Jewish plot against him is discovered just as he is about to sail for Syria, he changes course and returns through Macedonia. A group of companions representing various churches accompany him, going ahead to wait for Paul and Luke at Troas.
1 Once the trouble died down, Paul gathered the believers together. He gave them some words of courage, said goodbye, and headed for Macedonia. And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
2 He traveled through that region, spending much time encouraging the believers everywhere. Then he arrived in Greece. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,
3 He stayed three months. Just when he was about to set sail for Syria, he found out that some Jewish leaders were plotting against him. So he changed plans and went back through Macedonia instead. And 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.
4 These men went with him: Sopater from Berea and Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica. Also Gaius from Derbe, Timotheus, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. And 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.
5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas. These going before tarried for us at Troas.
6 After the Festival of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi and met up with them in Troas five days later. We stayed there a week. And 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.
Eutychus Raised from the Dead at Troas
Study note
On the first day of the week, the believers gather to break bread and Paul speaks to them, extending his message until midnight because he is leaving the next day. A young man named Eutychus, sitting in a window, falls asleep during the long sermon and falls from the third floor to his death. Paul goes down, embraces him, and declares his life is in him. The community is greatly comforted when the young man is taken home alive.
7 On Sunday evening, the believers gathered for a meal together. Since Paul was leaving the next day, he talked with them -- and he kept going until midnight. And 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.
8 The upstairs room where they met was lit by many oil lamps. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9 A young man named Eutychus was sitting on the windowsill. As Paul's talk went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep. He tumbled out of the third-story window and was picked up dead. And 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.
10 Paul ran downstairs, threw himself on top of the young man, and wrapped his arms around him. "Do not worry," Paul told the crowd. "He is alive!" And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
11 Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. He kept talking with them until the sun came up. Then he left. When 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.
12 Meanwhile, the people took the young man home alive and were exceedingly relieved. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
The Journey from Troas to Miletus
Study note
Paul's companions sail ahead while Paul walks to Assos, where he boards the ship. They continue their voyage through Mitylene, past Chios and Samos, arriving at Miletus. Paul has decided to bypass Ephesus to save time, as he is eager to reach Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost.
13 We went ahead by ship to Assos, where we planned to pick up Paul. He had chosen to make that part of the trip on foot. And 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.
14 When he met us at Assos, we got him on board and sailed to Mitylene. And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
15 From there, we sailed the next day to a spot near Chios. The day after that, we crossed over to Samos and stopped at Trogyllium. The following day, we reached Miletus. And 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.
16 Paul had made up his mind to skip Ephesus so he would not lose time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost, if at all possible. For 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.
Paul's Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders
Study note
From Miletus, Paul sends for the elders of the Ephesian church and delivers one of the most personal and pastoral speeches in Acts. He reminds them of his humble, tearful service among them, his faithfulness in declaring the whole counsel of God to both Jews and Greeks, and his message of repentance and faith. He reveals that the Holy Spirit warns him of chains and hardships in every city, but he counts his life as nothing compared to finishing his race and the ministry of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. He warns them that after his departure, fierce wolves will attack the flock and false teachers will arise from within. He commits them to God and his word, and cites Jesus' saying, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
17 From Miletus, Paul sent a message to Ephesus asking the church elders to come meet him. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
18 When they got there, he said, "From the very first day I arrived in Asia, you saw how I lived the whole time. And 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,
19 I served the Lord with deep humility, often through tears. I faced one trial after another because of the plots the Jewish leaders made against me. Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20 You know I never held back anything that could help you. I taught you both in public meetings and in your homes. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 I told everyone the same thing -- both Jews and Greeks. You must turn to God and put your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now the Spirit is compelling me to go to Jerusalem. I have no idea what will happen to me there. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 All I know is that in every city, the Holy Spirit keeps warning me. Prison and suffering are waiting for me. Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But honestly, none of that matters to me. I am not trying to protect my life. My only goal is to finish the race and complete the mission the Lord Jesus gave me -- to tell people the good news about God's amazing grace. But 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.
25 I have spent my time with you preaching about God's kingdom. Now I am telling you that none of you will ever see me again. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26 So let me say this clearly today: if anyone turns away from God, it is not because I failed to warn you. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
27 I held nothing back -- I told you everything God wanted you to know. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28 Watch out for yourselves and for the whole group of believers that the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds of God's church -- the church he bought with his own blood. Take 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.
29 I know that after I am gone, dangerous people will come in among you like wolves and will try to destroy the flock. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Even some of your own people will stand up and twist the truth, trying to lure believers away to follow them. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 So stay alert! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each one of you, day and night, often with tears in my eyes. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 Now I place you in God's hands and in the care of his message of grace. That message has the power to build you up and give you an inheritance along with everyone else God has set apart for himself. And 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.
33 I never asked anyone for money or expensive clothes. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 You know perfectly well that I worked with my own two hands to provide for myself and for my companions. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have shown you in all things that by laboring like this you ought to support the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' I 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.
A Tearful Farewell
Study note
After his address, Paul kneels and prays with the Ephesian elders. They all weep deeply, embrace him, and kiss him, grieving most of all because he said they would never see his face again. They walk with him to the ship in a scene of profound pastoral love and sorrow.
36 After finishing his speech, Paul knelt down with all of them and prayed. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
37 Everyone broke down crying. They hugged Paul and kissed him. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
38 What made them saddest was when he said they would never see his face again. Then they walked with him all the way to the ship. Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.