Atos 20

¹ AndPaul departs from Ephesus by the consent of the church, not to be idle or at rest, but to take pains in another place.after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto [him] the disciples, and embraced [them], and departed for to go into Macedonia.

² And when he had gone over those parts, and had given themFor after so great trouble, there was need of much exhortation.much exhortation, he came into Greece,

³ A perverse zeal is the guider and instructor to murderers: and we are not excluded by the wisdom of God to prevent the endeavours of wicked men.And [there] abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

⁴ And there accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Berea, and of them of Thessalonica, Aristarchus, and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus, and of them of Asia, Tychicus, and Trophimus.

⁵ These went before, and taried vs at Troas.

⁶ And we sailed forth from Philippi, after the dayes of vnleauened bread, & came vnto them to Troas in fiue dayes, where we abode seuen dayes.

⁷ Assemblies in the night-time cannot be justly condemned, neither should they be, when the cause is good.And upon theLiterally, «the first day of the Sabbath», that is, upon the Lord's day: so that by this place, and by (1Co_16:2) we properly understand that in those days the Christians habitually assembled themselves solemnly together upon that day.first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

⁸ The devil, taking care to trouble the Church with a great offence, gives Paul a singular occasion to confirm the GospelAnd there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

⁹ And there sate in a windowe a certaine yong man, named Eutychus, fallen into a dead sleepe: and as Paul was long preaching, hee ouercome with sleepe, fell downe from the thirde loft, and was taken vp dead.

¹⁰ But Paul went downe, and layde himselfe vpon him, and embraced him, saying, Trouble not your selues: for his life is in him.

¹¹ Then when Paul was come vp againe, and had broken bread, and eaten, hauing spoken a long while till the dawning of the day, hee so departed.

¹² And they brought the boye aliue, and they were not a litle comforted.

¹³ Then we went before to shippe, and sailed vnto the citie Assos, that wee might receiue Paul there: for so had hee appointed, and would himselfe goe afoote.

¹⁴ Now when he was come vnto vs to Assos, and we had receiued him, we came to Mitylenes.

¹⁵ And wee sailed thence, and came the next day ouer against Chios, and the next day we arriued at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium: the next day we came to Miletum.

¹⁶ Paul, an earnest and diligent follower of Christ, making haste to his bonds without any ceasing or stopping in his race, first of all as it were makes his testament, wherein he gives an account of his former life, defends the doctrine which he taught, and exhorts the pastors of the church to persevere and go forward with continuance in their office.For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

¹⁷ And fromAccording as the situation of these places is set forth, the distance between Ephesus and Miletus was almost 50 miles or 80 km.Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

¹⁸ A graphic image of a true pastor.And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

¹⁹ Seruing the Lorde with all modestie, and with many teares, and tentations, which came vnto me by the layings awaite of the Iewes,

²⁰ [And] how I keptI did not refrain form speaking, neither did I conceal my motives in any way at all, either for fear or for wicked gain.back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

²¹ Witnessing both to the Iewes, and to the Grecians the repentance towarde God, and faith toward our Lord Iesus Christ.

²² He testifies that he goes to his imprisonment by the commandment of God.And now, behold, I goHe calls the guiding direction of the Holy Spirit, who forced him to take his journey to Jerusalem, the bond of the Sprit, whom he followed with all his heart.bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

²³ Saue that ye holy Ghost witnesseth in euery citie, saying, that bondes and afflictions abide me.

²⁴ But I passe not at all, neither is my life deare vnto my selfe, so that I may fulfill my course with ioye, and the ministration which I haue receiued of the Lorde Iesus, to testifie the Gospell of the grace of God.

²⁵ And now behold, I know that henceforth ye all, through whome I haue gone preaching the kingdome of God, shall see my face no more.

²⁶ Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I [am]If you perish, yet there will fault with me. {{See Act_18:6}}pure from the blood of all [men].

²⁷ The doctrine of the apostles is most perfect and absolute.For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

²⁸ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, toTo keep it, to feed and govern it.feed the church of God, whichA notable sentence for Christ's Godhead: which shows plainly in his person, how that by reason of the joining together of the two natures in his own person, that which is proper to one is spoken of the other, being taken as deriving from one another, and not in the original: which in old time the godly fathers termed a communicating or fellowship of properties or attributes, that is to say, a making common of that to two, which belongs but to one.he hath purchased withThe words «his own» show forth the excellency of that blood.his own blood.

²⁹ A prophecy of pastors that would immediately degenerate into wolves, against those who boast and brag only of a succession of persons.For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

³⁰ Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, toThis is great misery, to want the presence of such a shepherd, but it is a greater misery to have wolves enter in.draw away disciples after them.

³¹ Therefore watche, and remember, that by the space of three yeres I ceased not to warne euery one, both night and day with teares.

³² The power of God, and his free promises revealed in his word, are the props and upholders of the ministry of the Gospel.And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you anAs children, and therefore an inheritance of free love and good will.inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

³³ Pastors must before all things beware of covetousness.I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

³⁴ Yea, ye knowe, that these handes haue ministred vnto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

³⁵ I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye oughtAs it were by reaching out the hand to those who otherwise are about to slip and fall away, and so to steady them.to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

³⁶ And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled downe, and prayed with them all.

³⁷ The Gospel does not take away natural affections, but rules and bridles them in good order.And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

³⁸ Being chiefly sorie for the words which he spake, That they should see his face no more; they accompanied him vnto the shippe.