The Bible — World English Bible
Acts 20
In brief
Acts 20 follows Paul on the road to Jerusalem. At Troas, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep during Paul’s long talk, falls from a window and is brought back alive. At Miletus, Paul summons the elders of Ephesus for a farewell address: he recalls his ministry, announces that he will not see them again and urges them to watch over the flock against wolves. He reminds them of his own generosity and of Jesus’ words about the joy of giving. The chapter ends with tears and a prayer on bended knees.
The chapter in 5 parts
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, and 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.
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.
Key verses
But 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.
Paul does not count his life dear to himself, so long as he finishes his race with joy and the ministry he received from the Lord. His priority is announcing the good news of God’s grace.
Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men, for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
Paul declares that he is clean from the blood of all, because he has announced the whole counsel of God without holding anything back. The verse recalls our responsibility to proclaim faithfully, not to guarantee the result.
Take 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.
Paul charges the elders to watch over themselves and over all the flock the Holy Spirit has entrusted to them. Caring for the flock begins with caring for yourself.
In 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.’”
Paul recalls a saying of Jesus that is not recorded in the Gospels: it is more blessed to give than to receive. He backs it with the example of his own manual work for the sake of the weak.
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Frequently asked questions about Acts 20
What does “it is more blessed to give than to receive” mean?
Paul cites a saying of Jesus at the end of his address to the elders of Ephesus. He has just recalled that he worked with his own hands to support the weak. The verse affirms that joy comes from generosity more than from accumulating. It is not limited to money: it also concerns time and attention.
Who is Eutychus in Acts 20?
Eutychus is a young man of Troas, sitting on a window ledge during Paul’s long talk. He falls asleep, falls from the third floor and is picked up dead. Paul bends over him and says that his life is in him. He is brought back alive, which is a great comfort.
What is the message of the Miletus address?
Paul says farewell to the elders of Ephesus by recalling his faithfulness, humility and generosity. He charges them to watch over themselves and over the flock, in the face of the wolves that will come and of false teachers. He entrusts them to God and to the word of his grace.
Articles quoting Acts 20
- 20 Bible Verses About Contentment
- 20 Bible Verses for a Farewell in Japan: Transfers, Retirement and Moving Away
- How Do I Know If God Is Calling Me? Four Biblical Markers
- Self-Pity and Self-Esteem: Looking to Jesus, Our Example
- Matthew 7: Recognizing False Prophets by Their Fruit
- Luke 2: Jesus at Twelve, Where the Son Must Be
World English Bible translation — public domain.