Acts 20

Through Macedonia and Greece

¹After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.

²When he had gone through those parts and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece.

³When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

⁴These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

⁵But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas.

⁶We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.

⁷On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day; and continued his speech until midnight.

⁸There were many lights in the upper room where we were gathered together.

⁹A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down by his sleep, he fell down from the third floor and was taken up dead.

¹⁰Paul went down and fell upon him, and embracing him said, “Don’t be troubled, for his life is in him.”

¹¹When he had gone up, had broken bread and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.

¹²They brought the boy in alive, and were greatly comforted.

Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

¹³But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land.

¹⁴When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and came to Mitylene.

¹⁵Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus.

¹⁶For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

¹⁷From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to himself the elders of the assembly.

¹⁸When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,

¹⁹serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;

²⁰how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,

²¹testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

²²Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there;

²³except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.

²⁴But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.

²⁵“Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more.

²⁶Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,

²⁷for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

²⁸Take heed, therefore, to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.

²⁹For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

³⁰Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

³¹Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.

³²Now, brothers, I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

³³I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing.

³⁴You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me.

³⁵In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

³⁷They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,

³⁸sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Previous Acts 19

Next Acts 21

Paul concludes his third missionary journey by traveling through Macedonia and Greece, accompanied by representatives from various churches. During a farewell gathering in Troas, he miraculously restores young Eutychus to life after the man falls from a window during Paul's lengthy sermon. The chapter culminates with Paul's emotional farewell address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus, where he reflects on his ministry, warns of future challenges, and commends them to God's care as he prepares for his final journey to Jerusalem.

Context

This chapter transitions from Paul's successful third missionary journey to his final, fateful journey to Jerusalem, setting up the arrest and trials that will dominate the remainder of Acts.

Key Themes

Outline

1-6
Journey Through Macedonia and Greece Paul travels with companions through Macedonia and Greece, avoiding a Jewish plot by changing his travel route.
7-12
Eutychus Restored at Troas During Paul's extended sermon, young Eutychus falls from a window and dies but is miraculously restored to life.
13-16
Travel to Miletus Paul and his companions sail toward Jerusalem, bypassing Ephesus to save time for reaching Jerusalem by Pentecost.
17-24
Paul's Ministry Reflection Paul summons the Ephesian elders and reflects on his faithful service, upcoming trials, and commitment to complete his mission.
25-31
Warnings and Exhortations Paul warns of false teachers who will arise and exhorts the elders to shepherd the church faithfully.
32-38
Final Commendation and Farewell Paul commends the elders to God's grace, emphasizes generous giving, and shares an emotional farewell.

Through Macedonia and Greece

20:1–20:12

narrative narration tender

Paul travels through Macedonia and Greece with companions, and during a lengthy evening gathering in Troas, he miraculously restores young Eutychus to life after the boy falls from a window and dies.

person_contrast

Paul's marathon midnight sermon in Troas uniquely combines his typical fellowship emphasis with extraordinary miraculous power, creating the only New Testament account where prolonged teaching directly precedes resurrection.

Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

20:13–20:38

narrative speech solemn

Paul delivers a farewell address to the Ephesian elders, reflecting on his ministry and warning them to shepherd the church faithfully. He expresses his commitment to complete his mission despite knowing suffering awaits him in Jerusalem.

person_contrast

Paul's emotional declaration "I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God" uses the rare Greek verb *hypostello*, appearing only here and Galatians 2:12 in contexts of courageous truth-telling.

Insight Character Study

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Acts 20:2 1 reference

Lexicals 1

Luke 5:15 Lexical

But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by him of th…

Acts 20

Through Macedonia and Greece

Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

Through Macedonia and Greece

Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

Insights

Cross-References

Acts 20:2 1 reference

Acts 20:3 5 references

Acts 20:4 4 references

Acts 20:6 1 reference

Acts 20:7 5 references

Acts 20:8 1 reference

Acts 20:11 1 reference

Acts 20:13 1 reference

Acts 20:16 3 references

Acts 20:17 2 references

Acts 20:18 1 reference

Acts 20:19 1 reference

Acts 20:21 5 references

Acts 20:22 5 references

Acts 20:23 3 references

Acts 20:25 1 reference

Acts 20:28 4 references

Acts 20:31 3 references

Acts 20:33 2 references

Acts 20:35 5 references

Acts 20:36 3 references

Acts 20:37 1 reference

Acts 20:38 1 reference

Interlinear

Historical Context