CHAP. XX.

1 Paul goeth to Macedonia: 7 he celebrateth the Lord's supper, and preacheth. 9 Eutychus falleth down dead, 10 is raised to life. 28 Paul committeth the flock to the elders, 36 and prayeth.

AND 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 them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

3 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 the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5 These, going before, tarried for us at Troas.

6 And we sailed away from Philippi, after the days of un

Eutychus raised to life. leavened bread,a and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

7 And upon the 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 And there were many lights in the upper chamber where they were gathered together.

9 And there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep; and, as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and up dead.

was taken

10 And Paul went down,and fell on him, and, embracing him, said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul; for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

a Days of unleavened bread, the passover.

The elders called, and

15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. 16 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.b

17¶ And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church,c

18 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 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befel me by the lying in wait of the Jews;

20 And how I kept back nothing, that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things

that shall befal me there:

b Pentecost, see Acts Chap. ii. 1. c Elders of the Church, rulers or directors.

commended to God.

28 Saved that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, That bonds and af flictions abide me.

24 But none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,e and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day,f that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27 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, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall griev ous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

32 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 an inheritance among all them, which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities,g and, to them that were with me.

35 I have shewed you all things,how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak & 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 down, and prayed with them all.

37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him;

38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

g These bands have ministered, i. e. I have laboured with my own hands both to support myself, and those that were with me.

the elders to God.. CHAP. XXI.

1 Paul will not be dissuaded from going to Jerusalem. 9 Philip's daughters prophetesses. 17 Paul at Jerusalem, 27 is apprehended, 31 but is rescued by the chief captain. AND it came to pass, that, after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, & the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:

2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

3 Now, when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre; for ship was to unlade

her burden.

4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days; who said to Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed, and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city, and we kneeled down on the shore and prayed.

6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.

And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and salut

Paul goeth to

ed the brethren, and abode with them one day.

8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Cesarea; and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven,a and abode with him.

9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophecy.

10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus.

11 And when he was come anto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

12 And, when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.

a One of the seven: probably one of the seven deacons, for whose appointment see Acts VI.

Jerusalem,

16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.

17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18 And the day following, Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which be lieve; and they are all zealous of the law:

21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews, which are among the Gentiles, to forsake Moses, saying, That they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together; for they will hear that thou art come.

23 Do, therefore, this that we say to thee; We have four men which have a vow on them: b

b A vow, &c. It was customary with the Jews in sickness or distress, to make vows, and to spend at least thirty days in extraordinary devo

24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself walkest orderly, and keepest the law. 25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded, that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, & from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication..

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself with them, entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the tem

tions. Those, who were under the obligation of these vows, were called Nazarites. During their vow, they never cut their hair, nor drank any wine or strong drink. On the seventh day of their devotions they shaved their heads, and offered various of ferings to the Lord. As it was reported, that Paul taught to forsake the laws of Moses, the apostles advised him to attend to these ceremonies to pacify the Jews, and to show his willingness to comply with their customs, although under the Christian dispensation, it was not necessary to observe them.

apprehended.

ple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help; This is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place; and further, brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together, and they took Paul,and drew him out of the temple; & forthwith the doors were shut.

31 And, as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band,c that all Jerusalem was in an

uproar;

32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions,d and ran down unto them; and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers they left beating of Paul.

33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded wl:o he was, and what he had done?

34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the mul

c Chief captain of the band; Lysias the commander of the Roman garrison.

d Centurion, a Roman officer commanding 100 men.