Acts 20:1-12, 13-16, 17-23:11, 12-35 After the uproar was ceased, Paul called to him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone over to those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, and there stayed three months. There the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail for Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. And there accompanied him to Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. These going before us waited at Troas. And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them at Troas in five days; where we stayed seven days. And upon the first of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them, and we made ready to depart on the morrow; after which he continued his speech until midnight. Being late at night, there were many lights in the upper chamber, where we were gathered together. 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 into a deep sleep, and fell down from the third floor, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 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. And they brought the young man alive, and were greatly comforted.
And
we took the next ship, and sailed to Assos, there intending to take
in Paul: for he appointed himself to go afoot. He met with us at
Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said to them, You know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 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: how I kept back nothing that was profitable for you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, the testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Christ Jesus. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit to go to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord, Christ Jesus, to testify of this Gospel of the Grace of God in the face of Christ Jesus.
A
Warning to be heard
And
now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching
the
kingdom of God,
shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day,
that I am
pure from the blood of all men.
For I have not shunned to declare to you all the full counsel of God.
Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church
(assembly)
of God, which He has purchased with His own blood. For I know this,
that after my departing shall grievous wolves (false
prophets of Religion)
enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves
shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three
years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And
now, 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. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or
apparel. As, you yourselves know, that these hands have ministered to
my necessities, and to them that are with me. I have showed you all
things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to
remember the words of the Lord, Christ Jesus, how he said, It
is more blessed to give than to receive.
And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them
all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoken, that they should
see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
It came to pass, that after we left from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes, and from there to Patara: And finding a ship sailing over to Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unload her burden. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all saw us on our way, with their wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. When we had taken our leave one of another, we boarded ship; and they returned home again. When we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brothers, and stayed with them one day. The next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came to Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and stayed with him. The same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. As we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. When he was come to us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. To this Paul answered, What mean you to weep and to break my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
After those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Manson of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
When we were come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. The day following Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, You see, brothers, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: (this is not the Mosaic Law but rather the kingdom law of Love and Grace working through the LORD, Christ Jesus by His Faith in them) And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. (the lie of misunderstanding and interpretation of God's word, Will and law) What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that you are come. Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men which have a vow on them; To take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law. And as touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
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