Nov 21 - Acts 20-21
Acts
1Then, after the tumult ceased, Paul, calling the disciples to himself and exhorting them, said farewell. And he set out, so that he might go into Macedonia2And when he had walked through those areas and had exhorted them with many sermons, he went into Greece3After he had spent three months there, treacheries were planned against him by the Jews, just as he was about to sail into Syria. And having been advised of this, he return through Macedonia4Now those accompanying him were Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus from Beroea; and also the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and also Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia5These, after they had gone ahead, waited for us at Troas6Yet truly, we sailed from Philippi, after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we went to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days7Then, on the first Sabbath, when we had assembled together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to set out the next day. But he prolonged his sermon into the middle of the night8Now there were plenty of lamps in the upper room, where we were gathered9And a certain adolescent named Eutychus, sitting on the window sill, was being weighed down by a heavy drowsiness (for Paul was preaching at length). Then, as he went to sleep, he fell from the third floor room downward. And when he was lifted up, he was dead10When Paul had gone down to him, he laid himself over him and, embracing him, said, "Do not worry, for his soul is still within him.11And so, going up, and breaking bread, and eating, and having spoken well on until daylight, he then set out12Now they had brought the boy in alive, and they were more than a little consoled13Then we climbed aboard the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take in Paul. For so he himself had decided, since he was making the journey by land14And when he had joined us at Assos, we took him in, and we went to Mitylene15And sailing from there, on the following day, we arrived opposite Chios. And next we landed at Samos. And on the following day we went to Miletus16For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not be delayed in Asia. For he was hurrying so that, if it were possible for him, he might observe the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem17Then, sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called those greater by birth in the church18And when they had come to him and were together, he said to them: "You know that from the first day when I entered into Asia, I have been with you, for the entire time, in this manner19serving the Lord, with all humility and despite the tears and trials which befell me from the treacheries of the Jews20how I held back nothing that was of value, how well I have preached to you, and that I have taught you publicly and throughout the houses21testifying both to Jews and to Gentiles about repentance in God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ22And now, behold, being obliged in spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there23except that the Holy Spirit, throughout every city, has cautioned me, saying that chains and tribulations await me at Jerusalem24But I dread none of these things. Neither do I consider my life to be more precious because it is my own, provided that in some way I may complete my own course and that of the ministry of the Word, which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God25And now, behold, I know that you will no longer see my face, all of you among whom I have traveled, preaching the kingdom of God26For this reason, I call you as witnesses on this very day: that I am clean from the blood of all27For I have not turned aside in the least from announcing every counsel of God to you28Take care of yourselves and of the entire flock, over which the Holy Spirit has stationed you as Bishops to rule the Church of God, which he has purchased by his own blood29I know that after my departure ravenous wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock30And from among yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things in order to entice disciples after them31Because of this, be vigilant, retaining in memory that throughout three years I did not cease, night and day, with tears, to admonish each and every one of you32And now, I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace. He has the power to build up, and to give an inheritance to all who are sanctified33I have coveted neither silver and gold, nor apparel,34as you yourselves know. For that which was needed by me and by those who are with me, these hands have provided35I have revealed all things to you, because by laboring in this way, it is necessary 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.’ 36And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with all of them37Then a great weeping occurred among them all. And, falling upon the neck of Paul, they kissed him38being grieved most of all over the word which he had said, that they would never see his face again. And they brought him to the ship
1And after these things had happened, having reluctantly parted from them, we sailed a direct course, arriving at Cos, and on following the day at Rhodes, and from there to Patara2And when we had found a ship sailing across to Phoenicia, climbing aboard, we set sail3Then, after we had caught sight of Cyprus, keeping it to the left, we sailed on to Syria, and we arrived at Tyre. For the ship was going to unload its cargo there4Then, having found the disciples, we lodged there for seven days. And they were saying to Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem5And when the days were completed, setting out, we went on; and they all accompanied us with their wives and children, until we were outside of the city. And we kneeled down at the shore and prayed6And when we had said farewell to one another, we climbed aboard the ship. And they returned to their own7Yet truly, having completed our journey by boat from Tyre, we descended to Ptolemais. And greeting the brothers, we lodged with them for one day8Then, after setting out the next day, we arrived at Caesarea. And upon entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him9Now this man had four daughters, virgins, who were prophesying10And while we were delayed for some days, a certain prophet from Judea, named Agabus, arrived11And he, when he had come to us, took Paul’s belt, and binding his own feet and hands, he said: "Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose belt this is, the Jews will bind in this way at Jerusalem. And they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.12And when we had heard this, both we and those who were from that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem13Then Paul responded by saying: "What do you accomplish by weeping and afflicting my heart? For I am prepared, not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.14And since we were not able to persuade him, we quieted, saying: "May the will of the Lord be done.15Then, after those days, having made preparations, we ascended to Jerusalem16Now some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing with them a certain Cypriot named Mnason, a very old disciple, whose guests we would be17And when we had arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us willingly18Then, on the following day, Paul entered with us to James. And all the elders were assembled19And when he had greeted them, he explained each thing that God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry20And they, upon hearing it, magnified God and said to him: "You understand, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law21Now they have heard about you, that you are teaching those Jews who are among the Gentiles to withdraw from Moses, telling them that they should not circumcise their sons, nor act according to custom22What is next? The multitude ought to be convened. For they will hear that you have arrived23Therefore, do this thing that we ask of you: We have four men, who are under a vow24Take these and sanctify yourself with them, and require them to shave their heads. And then everyone will know that the things that they have heard about you are false, but that you yourself walk in keeping with the law25But, about those Gentiles who have believed, we have written a judgment that they should keep themselves from what has been immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication.26Then Paul, taking the men on the next day, was purified with them, and he entered the temple, announcing the process of the days of purification, until an oblation would be offered on behalf of each one of them27But when the seven days were reaching completion, those Jews who were from Asia, when they had seen him in the temple, incited all the people, and they laid hands on him, crying out28"Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching, everyone, everywhere, against the people and the law and this place. Furthermore, he has even brought Gentiles into the temple, and he has violated this holy place.29(For they had seen Trophimus, an Ephesian, in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.30And the entire city was stirred up. And it happened that the people ran together. And apprehending Paul, they dragged him outside of the temple. And immediately the doors were closed31Then, as they were seeking to kill him, it was reported to the tribune of the cohort: "All Jerusalem is in confusion.32And so, immediately taking soldiers and centurions, he rushed down to them. And when they had seen the tribune and the soldiers, they ceased to strike Paul33Then the tribune, drawing near, apprehended him and ordered that he be bound with two chains. And he was asking who he was and what he had done34Then they were crying out various things within the crowd. And since he could not understand anything clearly because of the noise, he ordered him to be brought into the fortress35And when he had arrived at the stairs, it happened that he was carried up by the soldiers, because of the threat of violence from the people36For the multitude of the people were following and crying out, "Take him away!37And as Paul was beginning to be brought into the fortress, he said to the tribune, "Is it permissible for me to say something to you?" And he said, "You know Greek38So then, are you not that Egyptian who before these days incited a rebellion and led out into the desert four thousand murderous men?39But Paul said to him: "I am a man, indeed a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a well-known city. So I petition you, permit me to speak to the people.40And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned with his hand to the people. And when a great silence occurred, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying