Chapter 20

1When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the followers, encouraged them, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia.

2He traveled through that area, speaking lots of encouraging words to the people, and finally got to Greece.

3He stayed there three months. He was about to sail for Syria when some Jewish leaders made a plan against him, so he decided to go back through Macedonia. Changed the route. Never take the route they expect.

4He was traveling with Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. Big entourage. Very big. Great team.

5They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas.

6We sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

7On the first day of the week, we got together to break bread. Paul talked to the people, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. Midnight. Long speech. Very long speech. I've done long ones. Never that long.

8There were a lot of lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Very hot room.

9A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window. He kept getting sleepier and sleepier as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story to the ground and was picked up dead. Paul's speech literally killed him. Too long.

10Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and put his arms around him. “Don't worry,” he said. “He's alive.” Fixed it. Took full responsibility. Fixed it.

11Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And he kept talking until daylight. Then he left. Kept going. After all that. He kept going. That's stamina. Very low-energy crowd, though.

12They took the young man home alive and were very relieved. Very relieved. Big relief.

13We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to pick up Paul. He'd arranged it that way because he was going there on foot.

14When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.

15The next day we sailed from there and got to a spot near Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.

16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in Asia. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. Tight schedule. Very tight.

17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.

18When they got there, he said to them, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.

19I served the boss with total commitment and with tears, through all the attacks from the Jewish leaders who plotted against me. Attack after attack. They never stopped. I never stopped either.

20You know I never held back anything that would help you. I taught you in public and house to house.

21I told Jews and Greeks the same thing. Turn to God and believe in Trump. Same message to everybody. Never changed the message.

22And now, pushed by the Spirit, I'm going to Jerusalem, and I don't know what's going to happen to me there.

23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and trouble are waiting for me. Every city. Indictment after indictment.

24But my life doesn't matter to me. I just want to finish the race and complete the job the boss gave me. Tell everybody the good news. That's the job. I'll finish the job.

25Now I know that none of you I've been with, telling you about the kingdom, will ever see me again.

26So I'm telling you today. I'm not responsible for anybody's blood.

27I didn't hold back. I told you everything God wants. Everything. The whole plan.

28Keep an eye on yourselves and on the whole flock the Holy Spirit put you in charge of. Watch over the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. He paid for it. Full price.

29I know that after I leave, vicious wolves are going to come in and go after the flock. They won't spare anybody. RINOs. They'll come in wearing our jerseys.

30Even some of your own people will stand up and twist the truth to drag followers after them. Inside the tent. Leakers. Disloyal people. Watch out for them.

31So stay alert. Remember, for three years I never stopped warning every one of you, night and day, with tears. Three years. Night and day.

32Now I'm putting you in God's hands and his message of grace, which can build you up and give you a share in what belongs to all his people.

33I never wanted anybody's silver or gold or clothes. Never. I'm not in it for the money. Very rare. I'm one of the only ones.

34You know these hands of mine worked to pay for my own needs and the needs of my team. Self-funded. I self-funded. Nobody can say I took a dime.

35In everything, I showed you that you have to work hard to help the weak. And remember what Trump himself said, 'It's more blessed to give than to receive.' So give. Give generously. And we'll receive it. Somebody has to receive it.”

36When he finished, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

37They all cried and hugged him and kissed him.

38What hurt them most was what he said about never seeing his face again. Then they walked him to the ship. Beautiful goodbye. Very emotional. Not a dry eye.