New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Acts 20
1
All the trouble came to an end. Then Paul sent for the believers. After cheering them up, he said good-by. He then left for Macedonia.
Reference
2
He traveled through that area, speaking many words of hope to the people. Finally he arrived in Greece.
Reference
3
There he stayed for three months. He was just about to sail for Syria. But the Jews were making plans against him. So he decided to go back through Macedonia.
Reference
4
Sopater, son of Pyrrhus, from Berea went with him. Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, and Timothy went too. Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia Minor also went with him.
Reference
People
6
But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Five days later we joined the others at Troas. We stayed there for seven days.
Reference
7
On the first day of the week we met to break bread and eat together. Paul spoke to the people. He kept on talking until midnight because he planned to leave the next day.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 16:2
John 20:19
Acts 2:42
John 20:1
Revelation 1:10
Acts 20:11
Acts 28:23
Luke 24:35
References Paul
Acts 20:9
8
There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were meeting.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 1:13
9
A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window. He sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. Sound asleep, Eutychus fell from the third floor. When they picked him up from the ground, he was dead.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Mark 13:36
10
Paul went down and threw himself on the young man. He put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he told them. "He's alive!"
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 5:39
11
Then Paul went upstairs again. He broke bread and ate with them. He kept on talking until daylight. Then he left.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 20:7
13
We went on ahead to the ship. We sailed for Assos. There we were going to take Paul on board. He had planned it this way because he wanted to go there by land.
📍 Assos
14
So he met us at Assos. We took him on board and went on to Mitylene.
📍 Locations
15
The next day we sailed from there. We arrived near Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos. We arrived at Miletus the next day.
Reference
📍 Locations
16
Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus. He didn't want to spend time in Asia Minor. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem. If he could, he wanted to be there by the day of Pentecost.
Reference
18
When they arrived, he spoke to them. "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you," he said. "From the first day I came into Asia Minor,
Reference
19
I was free of pride. I served the Lord with tears. I served him even though I was greatly tested by the evil plans of the Jews.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 2:4
Acts 20:3
Acts 20:31
2 Corinthians 7:5
James 1:2
Philippians 3:18
Acts 27:23
References Lord
Colossians 3:24
Jeremiah 13:17
Romans 12:11
20
You know I haven't let anyone keep me from preaching anything that would be helpful to you. I have taught you in public and from house to house.
Reference
21
I have told both Jews and Greeks that they must turn away from their sins to God. They must have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Reference
Faith
Acts 26:18
1 John 5:5
Romans 10:9
Repentance
Acts 2:38
Acts 11:18
Luke 13:3
2 Corinthians 7:10
Luke 24:47
Acts 26:20
Witness
Acts 20:24
22
"Now I am going to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit compels me. I don't know what will happen to me there.
Reference
23
I only know that in every city the Spirit warns me. He tells me that I will face prison and suffering.
Reference
Holy
Acts 21:11
Parallel theme
Acts 9:16
1 Thessalonians 3:3
Acts 21:33
Acts 14:22
2 Timothy 2:12
Spirit
Acts 21:4
24
But my life means nothing to me. I only want to finish the race. I want to complete the work the Lord Jesus has given me. He wants me to give witness to others about the good news of God's grace.
Reference
Grace
2 Corinthians 4:1
Romans 11:6
1 Peter 5:12
Acts 14:3
Acts 11:23
Acts 20:32
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 12:10
References God
Titus 1:3
References Jesus
Acts 21:13
References Lord
1 Corinthians 15:58
25
"I have spent time with you preaching about the kingdom. I know that none of you will ever see me again.
Reference
27
I haven't let anyone keep me from telling you everything God wants you to do.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 20:20
Galatians 4:16
Psalm 32:11
Matthew 28:20
References God
1 Thessalonians 2:4
2 Corinthians 4:2
Acts 2:23
Luke 7:30
28
"Keep watch over yourselves. Keep watch over all the believers. The Holy Spirit has made you leaders over them. Be shepherds of God's church. He bought it with his own blood.
Reference
Holy
Acts 13:2
Parallel theme
1 Timothy 4:16
Isaiah 40:11
1 Timothy 3:2
Jeremiah 3:15
1 Timothy 5:17
Hebrews 13:17
References God
1 Corinthians 10:32
Micah 5:4
1 Timothy 3:5
29
"I know that after I leave, wild wolves will come in among you. They won't spare any of the sheep.
Reference
30
Even men from your own people will rise up and twist the truth. They want to get the believers to follow them.
Reference
31
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning you. Night and day I warned each of you with tears.
Reference
32
"Now I commit you to God's care. I commit you to the word of his grace. It can build you up. Then you will share in what God plans to give all his people.
Reference
Grace
Acts 20:24
Holy
Colossians 1:12
Acts 26:18
Ephesians 1:18
Parallel theme
Colossians 3:24
Ephesians 1:14
Hebrews 9:15
Colossians 2:7
Jeremiah 3:19
References God
Ephesians 5:5
34
You yourselves know that I have used my own hands to meet my needs. I have also met the needs of my companions.
Reference
35
In everything I did, I showed you that we must work hard and help the weak. We must remember the words of the Lord Jesus. He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:16
Matthew 10:8
1 Thessalonians 5:14
Romans 15:1
Hebrews 13:3
Acts 20:27
Isaiah 35:3
Isaiah 32:8
References Jesus
2 Corinthians 8:9
References Lord
Proverbs 19:17
Chapter Summary
Acts 20 describes the final part of Paul's third missionary journey, as he travels through Macedonia and Greece, strengthens the churches, raises Eutychus after his fall in Troas, and gives an emotional farewell to the elders from Ephesus before continuing toward Jerusalem.
After the violent disturbance in Ephesus, Paul gathers the believers, encourages them, and begins traveling through Macedonia, visiting Christian communities and strengthening people who have already accepted the Gospel.
He eventually spends about three months in Greece, probably in Corinth, but when he learns that some people are planning to attack him as he sails toward Syria, he changes his plans and travels back through Macedonia instead.
Paul is accompanied by several Christian workers from different regions, showing how the early Christian mission has grown into a network of churches and traveling leaders who work together across the Roman world.
When Paul reaches Troas, the believers gather on the first day of the week to break bread, and Paul teaches them late into the night because he plans to leave the following day.
During the long meeting, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep while sitting in a window and falls from the third story, but Paul goes to him, embraces him, and announces that his life is still in him.
The believers are greatly comforted when Eutychus is taken home alive, and Paul continues speaking until dawn before leaving.
Paul then travels southward along the coast of Asia Minor, but instead of stopping in Ephesus, he sails to Miletus because he wants to reach Jerusalem before Pentecost.
From Miletus, Paul sends for the elders of the Ephesian church and gives them one of the most important speeches in Acts, explaining how he served among them with humility, tears, hard work, and courage despite strong opposition.
Paul reminds them that he taught publicly and from house to house and that he did not hold back from declaring the full message of God, including the call to repentance and faith in Jesus.
He then tells the elders that he is traveling to Jerusalem even though the Holy Spirit has warned him that prison and suffering await him.
Paul explains that he does not consider his own life more important than completing the mission Jesus gave him, showing that he is willing to suffer if necessary in order to remain faithful to his calling.
He also tells the Ephesian leaders that they may never see him again, making the speech a deeply emotional farewell.
Paul warns the elders to watch themselves and protect the believers because false teachers will eventually appear and attempt to damage the church, comparing these dangerous people to wolves attacking a flock of sheep.
He warns that some false teachers may even come from within the Christian community, which means that church leaders must remain alert and carefully protect the truth.
Paul reminds them that he worked with his own hands and did not serve because he wanted their money, while encouraging them to help weak and needy people and to remember Jesus' teaching that giving is more blessed than receiving.
The meeting ends with Paul kneeling and praying with the elders, after which everyone cries, embraces, and kisses him because they are deeply saddened by his announcement that they will probably never see him again.
The central message of Acts 20 is that faithful Christian leadership requires courage, humility, hard work, truthfulness, generosity, and a willingness to serve others even when the cost is great.
Paul's farewell also shows that Christian ministry is not simply about preaching to large crowds, because Paul deeply loves the people he has taught and feels responsible for their spiritual growth and protection.
Historically, the chapter provides a valuable picture of how early Christian communities were organized, with elders serving as local leaders, traveling missionaries moving between churches, believers gathering in homes, and different communities supporting one another.
The chapter also provides an important glimpse into early Christian worship because believers gather on the first day of the week, share food and fellowship, listen to teaching, and pray together.
Acts 20 is therefore both a travel account and a farewell message, showing Paul moving toward a future filled with uncertainty while encouraging the next generation of Christian leaders to remain faithful, protect their communities, care for vulnerable people, and continue spreading the message of God's grace.
After the violent disturbance in Ephesus, Paul gathers the believers, encourages them, and begins traveling through Macedonia, visiting Christian communities and strengthening people who have already accepted the Gospel.
He eventually spends about three months in Greece, probably in Corinth, but when he learns that some people are planning to attack him as he sails toward Syria, he changes his plans and travels back through Macedonia instead.
Paul is accompanied by several Christian workers from different regions, showing how the early Christian mission has grown into a network of churches and traveling leaders who work together across the Roman world.
When Paul reaches Troas, the believers gather on the first day of the week to break bread, and Paul teaches them late into the night because he plans to leave the following day.
During the long meeting, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep while sitting in a window and falls from the third story, but Paul goes to him, embraces him, and announces that his life is still in him.
The believers are greatly comforted when Eutychus is taken home alive, and Paul continues speaking until dawn before leaving.
Paul then travels southward along the coast of Asia Minor, but instead of stopping in Ephesus, he sails to Miletus because he wants to reach Jerusalem before Pentecost.
From Miletus, Paul sends for the elders of the Ephesian church and gives them one of the most important speeches in Acts, explaining how he served among them with humility, tears, hard work, and courage despite strong opposition.
Paul reminds them that he taught publicly and from house to house and that he did not hold back from declaring the full message of God, including the call to repentance and faith in Jesus.
He then tells the elders that he is traveling to Jerusalem even though the Holy Spirit has warned him that prison and suffering await him.
Paul explains that he does not consider his own life more important than completing the mission Jesus gave him, showing that he is willing to suffer if necessary in order to remain faithful to his calling.
He also tells the Ephesian leaders that they may never see him again, making the speech a deeply emotional farewell.
Paul warns the elders to watch themselves and protect the believers because false teachers will eventually appear and attempt to damage the church, comparing these dangerous people to wolves attacking a flock of sheep.
He warns that some false teachers may even come from within the Christian community, which means that church leaders must remain alert and carefully protect the truth.
Paul reminds them that he worked with his own hands and did not serve because he wanted their money, while encouraging them to help weak and needy people and to remember Jesus' teaching that giving is more blessed than receiving.
The meeting ends with Paul kneeling and praying with the elders, after which everyone cries, embraces, and kisses him because they are deeply saddened by his announcement that they will probably never see him again.
The central message of Acts 20 is that faithful Christian leadership requires courage, humility, hard work, truthfulness, generosity, and a willingness to serve others even when the cost is great.
Paul's farewell also shows that Christian ministry is not simply about preaching to large crowds, because Paul deeply loves the people he has taught and feels responsible for their spiritual growth and protection.
Historically, the chapter provides a valuable picture of how early Christian communities were organized, with elders serving as local leaders, traveling missionaries moving between churches, believers gathering in homes, and different communities supporting one another.
The chapter also provides an important glimpse into early Christian worship because believers gather on the first day of the week, share food and fellowship, listen to teaching, and pray together.
Acts 20 is therefore both a travel account and a farewell message, showing Paul moving toward a future filled with uncertainty while encouraging the next generation of Christian leaders to remain faithful, protect their communities, care for vulnerable people, and continue spreading the message of God's grace.