Acts 20

1 When the uproar [commotion, tumult] had ended [ceased, stopped], Paul [the apostle, originally named Saul] sent for [called to, summoned] the disciples [learners, followers of Jesus]. And after encouraging [exhorting, comforting] them, he said goodbye [took leave, bid farewell] to them and left [departed, went out] for [toward, into] Macedonia [a region in Greece, an important area in early Christianity]. word study 2 After traveling [passing through, traversing] through that area [those parts, regions] and speaking [exhorting, pleading with] many words [messages, teachings] of encouragement [comfort, consolation], he arrived [came, went] in [into, toward] Greece [Grecia, the land of the Greeks], word study 3 where he stayed [for a period of, during] three [a specific number of, exactly] months [a period of time]. And when the Jews [from Judah, Jewish people] formed [laid, made] a plot [secret plan, conspiracy] against him as he was about [on the verge of, intending] to sail [set sail, travel by ship] for Syria [a region in Asia], he decided [purposed, made a resolution] to go back [return, turn back] through [by way of, via] Macedonia [a region in Greece]. word study 4 Paul was accompanied [traveled together with, went as far as Asia with] by Sopater [a Christian from Berea] son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus [a Macedonian Christian, a companion of Paul] and Secundus [meaning second, a Christian who accompanied Paul] from Thessalonica, Gaius [a Christian from Derbe, a friend of Paul] from Derbe, Timothy [dear to God, a Christian companion of Paul], and Tychicus [a Christian who helped spread the gospel] and Trophimus [meaning nourished, a Christian who accompanied Paul] from the province of Asia [the Roman province of Asia Minor, a region in western Asia]. word study 5 These men [going before, having gone ahead] went on ahead and waited [tarried, stayed] for us [I, me, the speaker and their companions] in [at, among] Troas [a city in Asia Minor, near the Hellespont]. word study 6 And after the Feast [a week-long celebration] of Unleavened Bread [bread without yeast], we sailed [departed by ship, set sail] from Philippi [a city in Macedonia], and five [the number five] days later we rejoined [came to, met] them in Troas [a city in Asia Minor], where we stayed [remained, tarried] seven days. word study 7 On the first day [Sunday] of the week we came together [assembled, gathered] to break [share, distribute] bread [a loaf of bread]. Since Paul [the apostle, a messenger of God] was ready [prepared, intending] to leave [depart, go out] the next day [the following day, tomorrow], he talked [preached, discoursed] to them and kept on speaking [prolonged his speech, continued talking] until [up to the point of] midnight [the middle of the night, a time of darkness]. word study 8 Now there were many [a great number of] lamps [lightes, oil lamps] in the upper room [upper chamber, upstairs room] where we were gathered [in a state of being collected, brought together as one]. word study 9 And a certain young man [young, under forty years old] named Eutychus, seated [sitting, in a state of rest] in the window, was sinking [overcome, weighed down] into a deep [profound, far down] sleep as Paul talked [preached, discoursed] on and on. When he was sound [completely, thoroughly] asleep, he fell [collapsed, tumbled down] from the third story [the top level, the highest floor] and was picked up [taken away, lifted] dead [lifeless, without breath]. word study 10 But Paul [the apostle, originally named Saul] went down [came to be with, to fall upon], threw himself on the young man, and embraced [hugged tightly, showing love and affection] him. “Do not be alarmed [troubled, make no ado]!” he said. “He is still alive [his life is in him, his soul is present]!” word study 11 Then Paul went back upstairs [to the upper room], broke bread [the loaves], and ate [shared a meal together]. And after speaking [talking, conversing] until daybreak [dawn, the break of day], he departed [went out, left the place]. word study 12 And the people [were greatly comforted, not a little] were greatly relieved [comforted in no ordinary measure] to take the boy [young man, child] home alive [living, with life]. word study 13 We went on ahead [before them, going in advance] to the ship [boat, vessel] and sailed [set sail, navigated] to Assos [a city in Asia Minor], where we were to take [receive, pick up] Paul [the apostle, originally named Saul] aboard [on board, into the ship]. He had arranged [directed, planned] this because he was going [traveling, journeying] there on foot [by land, walking]. word study 14 And when [at the time, as] he met us at Assos [a city in Asia Minor], we took him [on board, aboard the ship] aboard and went on [proceeded, came] to Mitylene [a town on the island of Lesbos]. word study 15 Sailing on [to set sail, beginning a journey by boat] from there, we arrived [came to, reached the destination] the next day [following day, day after] opposite [across from, directly over against] Chios [an island in the Mediterranean Sea]. The day after that [next day, following day] we arrived [touched at, came near] at Samos [an island in the Aegean Sea], and on the following day [day after, next day] we came [arrived, went] to Miletus [an ancient city in Asia Minor, a major port city]. word study 16 Paul had decided [determined, made up his mind] to sail past [bypass, navigate around] Ephesus [a major city in Asia Minor] to avoid spending time [lingering, procrastinating] in the province of Asia [the Roman province of Asia Minor], because he was in a hurry [hastening, eager] to reach Jerusalem [the capital of Palestine], if possible [if it were able, if it were feasible], by the day of Pentecost [a festival 50 days after Passover, a time of celebration]. word study 17 From Miletus [an ancient city in Asia Minor], Paul sent [dispatched a messenger] to Ephesus [a major city in Asia Minor] for the [respected] elders [spiritual leaders, overseers] of the church [assembly, congregation, called-out ones]. word study 18 When they came [arrived, gathered] to him, he said, “You know [are aware, understand] how I lived [conducted myself, walked] the whole time [entire period, all seasons] I was with [among, together with] you, from the first [initial, beginning] day I arrived [came, set foot] in the province [region, area] of Asia [the Roman province of Asia Minor]. word study 19 I served [as a slave, in bondage to] the Lord [God, the supreme Master] with great [all, profound] humility [lowliness of mind, modesty] and with tears [many, abundant], especially in the trials [temptations, testings] that came upon me through the plots [evil designs, lying in wait] of the Jews [those who were not believers, Jewish people]. word study 20 I did not shrink back [hold back, withdraw] from declaring [reporting, announcing] anything that was [profitable, beneficial] helpful to you [for your benefit, to help you] as I taught [instructed, guided] you publicly [openly, in front of everyone] and from house to house [in every home, privately], word study 21 testifying [bearing witness, solemnly declaring] to Jews [those from Judah, the Jewish people] and Greeks [Gentiles, non-Jews] alike about repentance [a turning away from sin, a change of heart] to God [the one true deity, Creator of all] and faith [trust, confidence, reliance] in our Lord [Master, Savior] Jesus Christ [the Messiah, God’s Anointed]. word study 22 And now [at this present time], compelled [bound, driven] by the Spirit [the vital principle, breath of God], I am going [traveling, journeying] to Jerusalem [the capital of Palestine, a city of spiritual significance], not knowing [without perception, unaware] what will happen [occur, befall] to me [to myself, personally] there [in that place]. word study 23 I only know [am aware, have been informed] that in town after town [every city, each place I visit] the Holy [set apart, sacred] Spirit [the divine breath] warns [testifies, gives witness to] me that chains [bonds, shackles] and afflictions [pressures, tribulations] await [remain, are waiting for] me. word study 24 But I consider my life [worthless] of no value to me, if only I may finish my course [complete my mission, fulfill my ministry] and complete the ministry [service, divine work] I have received from the Lord Jesus [the Messiah, God’s Anointed]—the ministry [testimony, witness] of testifying [solemnly declaring, bearing witness] to the good news [gospel, message of salvation] of God’s [the Almighty, Heavenly Father] grace [unmerited favor, loving-kindness]. word study 25 Now [at this present time] I know [have spiritual awareness, perceive] that none of you [all of you, among whom I have gone] among whom I have preached [proclaimed, heralded] the kingdom [God’s royal power, dominion] will see [perceive, experience] my face [presence, countenance] again [no more, not anymore]. word study 26 Therefore [because of this reason, on account of this] I testify [bear witness, give evidence] to you [as my witness] this day [at this present time, now] that I am [exist as, stand as] innocent [clean, pure, free from guilt] of the blood [the atoning blood of Christ, the blood of sacrifice] of all men [every person, all humanity, all people]. word study 27 For [as a reason, explaining why] I did not shrink back [withdraw, hold back] from declaring [reporting, announcing] to you [directly, personally] the whole [all, entire] will [plan, counsel] of God [the one true deity, Creator]. word study 28 Keep watch [be vigilant, take heed] over yourselves [your own souls, spirits] and the entire flock [assembly, church] of which the Holy Spirit [the divine Helper, Counselor] has made you overseers [bishops, leaders]. Be shepherds [pastors, caregivers] of the church [assembly, community] of God [the Lord, Creator], which He purchased [gained, redeemed] with His own blood [life, sacrifice]. word study 29 I know [am deeply aware, perceive spiritually] that after my departure [leaving, going away], savage [grievous, vicious] wolves [ferocious, ravenous] will come in [enter, invade] among you [in your midst, within your group] and will not spare [show no mercy, treat leniently] the flock [believers, the church]. word study 30 Even from your own number [among your own selves, out from your own group], men [adult males, husbands] will rise up [stand up, get up from a position of rest] and distort [pervert, twist] the truth [the genuine message, the gospel] to draw away [pull away, lead astray] disciples [learners, followers] after them [behind them, to follow their lead]. word study 31 Therefore [in light of this, for this reason] be alert [watch, stay awake] and remember [bring to mind, recall] that for three years [a period of thirty-six months] I never stopped [ceased not, without resting] warning [admonishing, gently cautioning] each of you [every one, individually] night [the time of darkness] and day [a 24-hour period] with tears [teardrops, emotional sorrow]. word study 32 And now [at this present time] I commit [entrust, set before] you to God [the supreme Deity, Creator] and to the word [Logos, the divine Expression] of His grace [unmerited favor, loving-kindness], which can [is able, has the power] build you up [establish, edify] and give [bestow, grant] you an inheritance [a possession, a heavenly reward] among all [every one of] who are sanctified [set apart, made holy]. word study 33 I have not [never, at no time] coveted [longed for, set my heart on] anyone’s [no person’s, nobody’s] silver [argent, money] or [as an alternative] gold [precious metal] or [as another option] clothing [apparel, garments]. word study 34 You yourselves [personally, from your own experience] know [are aware, have perceived] that these hands [my own, literal hands] of mine [belonging to me] have ministered [served, provided for] to my own [personal, individual] needs [necessities, requirements] and those [the people, companions] of my companions [fellow travelers, associates] [who were with me, in my company]. word study 35 In everything [all things, every aspect], I showed you [gave you an example, demonstrated] that by this kind of hard work [laboring, toiling] we must help [support, assist] the weak [feeble, those in need], remembering [keeping in mind, recalling] the words [teachings, sayings] of the Lord Jesus Himself [the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior]: ‘It is more blessed [happy, fortunate] to give [bestow, grant] than to receive [take, accept].’” word study 36 When Paul had said [spoken, finished talking] this, he knelt down [bowed his knees, went down on his knees in prayer] with all [every one, together] of them and prayed [to worship, to ask of God]. word study 37 They all [bitterly, with intense sorrow] wept openly [with great weeping, abundantly] as they [fell on, pressed upon] embraced Paul [the apostle, originally named Saul] and [with strong affection, kissed repeatedly] kissed him [with love and respect]. word study 38 They were especially [sorrowing most of all, deeply troubled] grieved by his statement [the word which he had spoken] that they would never [not any more, no longer] see his face [presence, countenance] again. Then they accompanied [brought, helped on the way] him to the ship [boat, vessel]. word study