Through
Macedonia And Greece
When
the Uproar had ended,
Paul
sent for the Disciples and,
After
Encouraging them,
Said
Good-by and set out for Macedonia.
2
He traveled through that area,
Speaking
many words of Encouragement to the people,
And
finally arrived in Greece,
3
Where he stayed three months.
Because
the Jews made a Plot against him
Just
as he was about to sail for Syria,
He
decided to go back through Macedonia.
4
He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhum from Berea,
Aristarchus
and Secundus from Thessalonica,
Gaius
from Derbe, Timothy also,
And
from the Province of Asia Tychicus and Trophimus.
5
These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas.
6
But we sailed from Philippi
After
the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
And
five days later joined the others at Troas,
Where
we stayed seven days.
Eutychus
Raised From The Dead At Troas
7
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.
Paul
spoke to the people and,
Because
he interned to leave the next day,
Kept
on talking until midnight.
8
There were many lamps in the Upstairs Room
Where
we were meeting.
9
Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus,
Who
was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on.
When
he was sound asleep,
He
fell to the ground from the third story
AND
WAS PICKED UP DEAD.
10
PAUL WENT DOWN,
THREW
HIMSELF ON THE YOUNG MAN
AND
PUT HIS ARMS AROUND HIM
'DON'T
BE ALARMED,' he said
'HE'S
ALIVE!'
11
Then he went upstairs again
And
broke bread and ate.
After
talking Until Daylight, he left.
12
The people took the young man home Alive
And
were greatly comforted.
Paul's
Farewell To The Ephesian Elders
13
We went on ahead to the ship
And
sailed for Assos,
Where
we were going to take Paul aboard.
He
had made this arrangement
Because
he was going there on foot.
14
When he met us at Assos,
We
took him board and went on to Mitylene.
15
The next day we st sail from there
And
arrived off Kios.
The
day after that we crossed over to Samos,
And
on the following day arrived at Miletus.
16
Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus
To
avoid spending time in the Province of Asia,
For
he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,
If
possible, by the Day of Pentecost.
17
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus
For
the Elders of the Church.
18
When they arrived, he said to them:
'You
know how I lived the whole time I was with you,
From
the first day I came into the Province of Asia.
19
I served the Lord with Great Humility
And
with tears,
Although
I was severely Tested by the Plots of the Jews.
20
You know that I have not hesitated
To
Preach anything that would be helpful to you
But
have taught you publicly
And
from house to house.
21
I HAVE DECLARED TO BOTH JEWS AND GREEKS
THAT
THEY MUST TURN TO GOD IN REPENTANCE
AND
HAVE FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS.
22
AND NOW I AM COMPELLED BY THE SPIRIT,
I
AM GOING TO JERUSALEM,
NOT
KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME THERE.
I
ONLY KNOW THAT IN EVERY CITY THE HOLY SPIRIT WARNS ME
THAT
PRISON AND HARDSHIPS ARE FACING ME.
24
HOWEVER I CONSIDER MY LIFE
WORTH
NOTHING TO ME,
IF
ONLY I MAY FINISH THE RACE
AND
COMPLETE THE TASK
THE
LORD JESUS HAS GIVEN ME--
THE
TAKS OF TESTIFYING
TO
THE GOSPEL OF GOD'S GRACE.
25
'NOW I KNOW THAT NONE OF YOU
AMONG
WHOM I HAVE GONE ABOUT PRECHING THE KINGDOM
WILL
EVER SEE ME AGAIN.
26
THEREFORE, I DECLARE TO YOU TODAY
THAT
I AM INNOCENT OF THE BLOOD OF ALL MEN.
27
FOR I HAVE NOT HESITATED
TO
PROCLAIM TO YOU THE WHOLE WILL OF GOD.
28
KEEP WATCH OVER YOURSELVES
AND
ALL THE FLOCK
OF
WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT
HAS
MADE YOU OVERSEERS.
BE
SHEPHERDS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD,
WHICH
HE BOUGHT WITH HIS OWN BLOOD.
29
I KNOW THAT AFTER I LEAVE,
SAVAGE
WOLVES WILL COME IN AMONG YOU
AND
WILL NOT SPARE THE FLOCK.
30
EVEN FROM YOUR OWN NUMBER
MEN
WILL ARISE AND DISTORT THE TRUTH
IN
ORDER TO DRAW AWAY DISCIPLES AFTER THEM.
31
SO BE ON YOUR GUARD!
REMEMBER
THAT FOR THREE YEARS
I
NEVER STOPPED WARNING EACH OF YOU
NIGHT
AND DAY WITH TEARS.
32
NOW I COMMIT YOU TO GOD
AND
TO THE WORD OF HIS GRACE,
WHICH
CAN BUILD YOU UP
AND
GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE
AMONG
ALL THOSE WHO ARE SANCTIFIED.
33
I have not coveted
Anyone's
silver or gold or clothing.
34
You yourselves now that these hands of mine
Have
supplied my own needs
And
the needs of my companions.
35
In everything I did,
I
showed you that by this kind of hard work
We
must help the weak,
Remembering
the Words
Of
the Lord Jesus Himself said:
'IT
IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.'
36
When he had said this,
He
knelt down with all of them and prayed.
37
They all Wept as they Embraced him and kissed him.
38
What Grieved them most
Was
his statement
That
they would never see his face again.
Then
they accompanied him to the ship.
(Acts
20)
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