Acts

Travels, Visits, and Farewells

After the noise settled, Paul gathered his disciples to encourage them. Then he said farewell and set off on his journey to Macedonia.

He traveled through those regions, dedicating himself to speaking and encouraging others. He finally arrived in Greece.

When he had been there for three months, he planned to sail to Syria. However, since the Jews were plotting against him, he decided to return via Macedonia.

When he was about to leave for the Asian province, some companions accompanied him: Sopater, son of Pyrrhus, from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; Tychicus; and Trophimus from Asia.

They went ahead and waited for us in Troas,

while we set sail from Philippi as soon as the festival of Unleavened Bread was over. Five days later, we joined them in Troas, where we spent a week.

On the first day of the week, we gathered to break bread, and Paul, who planned to leave the next day, spoke at length. The talk continued until midnight,

with many lamps burning in the upstairs room where we were assembled. A young man named Eutychius was sitting on the window ledge

and as Paul kept on speaking, Eutychius became increasingly sleepy until he finally fell asleep and dropped from the third floor to the ground. They found him dead there.

Paul went down, bent over him, and took him in his arms:

“Do not be alarmed—he said—there is life in him.”

Then he went back upstairs, broke the bread, and ate. After that, he continued talking with them for a long time until daybreak, and then he left.

As for the young man, they lifted him up alive and were greatly comforted.

We went ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were to pick up Paul. This was the plan, since Paul intended to travel on foot.

In fact, we met him at Assos and, taking him aboard, we continued on to Mitylene.

We sailed from there and arrived off Chios the next day. A day later, we reached Samos; and the following day, we arrived at Miletus.

Paul decided to sail past Ephesus to save time in Asia, as he was eager to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost if possible.

Farewell to the Ephesians

From Miletus, Paul sent word to Ephesus, summoning the elders of the church. When they arrived, he addressed them:

You know how I lived among you from the first day I entered the province of Asia;

how I served the Lord with humility despite the sorrows and trials caused by the Jews.

You know that I never hesitated to do anything that could benefit you; I spoke openly and in your homes;

and I urged both Jews and non-Jews to turn to God and believe in our Lord Jesus.

But now I am going to Jerusalem, chained by the Spirit, without knowing what will happen to me there.

Yet in every city, the Holy Spirit warns me that imprisonment and troubles await me.

Indeed, I don’t value my life much; I only want to finish my race and complete the service the Lord Jesus has given me—to proclaim the good news of God’s grace.

I now feel confident that none of you, among whom I have been spreading the message of the kingdom of God, will ever see me again.

Therefore, I tell you today that my conscience is clear regarding all of you.

For I have spared no effort in fully proclaiming God’s will to you.

Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock that the Holy Spirit has entrusted to your care. Shepherd the Church of the Lord, which he has bought with his own blood.

I know that after I leave, ruthless wolves will come among you and not spare the flock.

And some from among you will rise up, corrupting the truth and leading the disciples astray.

Be alert, therefore, remembering that for three years, day and night, I did not cease to warn everyone, even with tears.

Now I commend you to God and to his grace-filled word, which can make you grow and inherit the share you will have with all the saints.

I have not sought for anyone’s silver, gold, or clothing.

You, yourselves, know that these hands of mine have provided for both my needs and the needs of those who were with me.

In every way I have shown you that by working hard one must help the weak, remembering the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘Happiness lies more in giving than in receiving.’”

After this conversation, Paul knelt with them and prayed.

Then they all started to weep, embraced him, and kissed him.

They were very upset because he had said they would never see him again.

And they accompanied him all the way to the ship.