Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

After the uproar in Ephesus had ceased, Paul called together the disciples and set out for Macedonia. He had already gone through those regions, giving them much exhortation, and now he arrived in Greece.

He stayed there three months, but when the Jews from Asia learned that he was planning to sail into Syria, they plotted against him. To avoid their trap, Paul decided to return to Macedonia instead. Several companions joined him on this journey: Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timotheus, Tychicus, and Trophimus from Asia.

As Paul's friends had gone ahead to wait for us in Troas, we sailed from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread. We arrived at Troas five days later and spent seven days there. On the first day of the week, when the disciples gathered together to break bread, Paul preached to them, intending to depart on the next day. He spoke until midnight, but not before a young man named Eutychus fell from a window in the upper chamber where they were meeting.

Paul went down and fell on him, embracing him, saying, "Make no ado; his life is in him." When he was revived, Paul broke bread with them and ate. He spent some time talking with them until dawn broke, then left. We brought Eutychus back to life, and the disciples were greatly comforted.

We sailed ahead to ship and arrived at Assos, where we planned to pick up Paul, who had arranged to travel by land. When he joined us there, we took him aboard and continued on to Mitylene. From there, we sailed to Chios the next day and Samos the following day. We stopped for a time in Trogyllium before arriving at Miletus.

Paul had decided not to stop in Ephesus this time, as he was eager to reach Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost. So from Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church in Ephesus, calling them to meet with him.

When they arrived, Paul said to them, "You know that I have been with you from the very beginning of my time in Asia, always serving the Lord and trying to live with humility. I've endured many trials because of the plots of the Jews, but I've shown you everything that was good for you to know – both publicly and privately."

He testified to them about repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, proclaiming it to both Jews and Greeks. Paul also told them that he had been warned by the Holy Spirit about the hardships that awaited him in Jerusalem: "Bonds and afflictions" were his future.

Despite these warnings, none of this deterred Paul. He was determined to fulfill his mission with joy, even if it meant facing difficulties. Paul knew that some among whom he had preached would never see his face again. So he took them to task on this day, saying, "I have not hesitated to declare the entire counsel of God to you."

He then warned them to watch out for themselves and their fellow overseers, as well as the flock entrusted to them by the Holy Spirit. Paul cautioned that after his departure, some would infiltrate their midst with false teaching and lead astray those who followed them.

Paul also told them, "For three years now, I have not stopped warning each of you day and night with tears." He commended them to God and to the word of His grace, which was capable of building them up and giving them an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

He added that he had never coveted anyone's silver, gold, or fine clothing. Paul showed them how he worked hard to support himself and his companions, remembering Jesus' words: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

When Paul finished speaking, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. They wept bitterly as they hugged him and kissed him, mourning the fact that they would never see his face again.