Net English TranslationActs 20 =
Paul Travels Through Macedonia and Greece
20

1 After the disturbance had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging1 them and saying farewell,2 he left to go to Macedonia.3 2 After he had gone through those regions4 and spoken many words of encouragement5 to the believers there,6 he came to Greece,7 3 where he stayed8 for three months. Because the Jews had made9 a plot10 against him as he was intending11 to sail12 for Syria, he decided13 to return through Macedonia.14 4 Paul15 was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea,16 Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica,17 Gaius18 from Derbe,19 and Timothy, as well as Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.20 5 These had gone on ahead21 and were waiting for us in Troas.22 6 We23 sailed away from Philippi24 after the days of Unleavened Bread,25 and within five days26 we came to the others27 in Troas,28 where we stayed for seven days. 7 On the first day29 of the week, when we met30 to break bread, Paul began to speak31 to the people, and because he intended32 to leave the next day, he extended33 his message until midnight. 8 (Now there were many lamps34 in the upstairs room where we were meeting.)35 9 A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window,36 was sinking37 into a deep sleep while Paul continued to speak38 for a long time. Fast asleep,39 he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down,40 threw himself41 on the young man,42 put his arms around him,43 and said, “Do not be distressed, for he is still alive!”44 11 Then Paul45 went back upstairs,46 and after he had broken bread and eaten, he talked with them47 a long time, until dawn. Then he left. 12 They took the boy home alive and were greatly48 comforted.

The Voyage to Miletus

13 We went on ahead49 to the ship and put out to sea50 for Assos,51 intending52 to take Paul aboard there, for he had arranged it this way.53 He54 himself was intending55 to go there by land.56 14 When he met us in Assos,57 we took him aboard58 and went to Mitylene.59 15 We set sail60 from there, and on the following day we arrived off Chios.61 The next day we approached62 Samos,63 and the day after that we arrived at Miletus.64 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus65 so as not to spend time66 in the province of Asia,67 for he was hurrying68 to arrive in Jerusalem,69 if possible,70 by the day of Pentecost. 17 From Miletus71 he sent a message72 to Ephesus, telling the elders of the church to come to him.73

18 When they arrived, he said to them, “You yourselves know how I lived74 the whole time I was with you, from the first day I set foot75 in the province of Asia,76 19 serving the Lord with all humility77 and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me because of the plots78 of the Jews. 20 You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming79 to you anything that would be helpful,80 and from teaching you publicly81 and from house to house, 21 testifying82 to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.83 22 And now,84 compelled85 by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem86 without knowing what will happen to me there,87 23 except88 that the Holy Spirit warns89 me in town after town90 that91 imprisonment92 and persecutions93 are waiting for me. 24 But I do not consider my life94 worth anything95 to myself, so that96 I may finish my task97 and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news98 of God’s grace.

25 “And now99 I know that none100 of you among whom I went around proclaiming the kingdom101 will see me102 again. 26 Therefore I declare103 to you today that I am innocent104 of the blood of you all.105 27 For I did not hold back from106 announcing107 to you the whole purpose108 of God. 28 Watch out for109 yourselves and for all the flock of which110 the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,111 to shepherd the church of God112 that he obtained113 with the blood of his own Son.114 29 I know that after I am gone115 fierce wolves116 will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Even from among your own group117 men118 will arise, teaching perversions of the truth119 to draw the disciples away after them. 31 Therefore be alert,120 remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning121 each one of you with tears. 32 And now I entrust122 you to God and to the message123 of his grace. This message124 is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have desired125 no one’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine126 provided for my needs and the needs of those who were with me. 35 By all these things,127 I have shown you that by working in this way we must help128 the weak,129 and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”130

36 When131 he had said these things, he knelt down132 with them all and prayed. 37 They all began to weep loudly,133 and hugged134 Paul and kissed him,135 38 especially saddened136 by what137 he had said, that they were not going to see him138 again. Then they accompanied139 him to the ship.

120:1tn Or “exhorting.” 220:1tn Or “and taking leave of them.” 320:1sn Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece. 420:2tn BDAG 633 s.v. μέρος 1.b.γ gives the meanings “the parts (of a geographical area), region, district,” but the use of “district” in this context probably implies too much specificity. 520:2tn Grk “and encouraging them with many words.” The participle παρακαλέσας (parakalesa", “encouraging”) has been translated by the phrase “spoken…words of encouragement” because the formal equivalent is awkward in contemporary English. 620:2tn Grk “[to] them”; the referent (the believers there) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 720:2tn In popular usage the term translated “Greece” here could also refer to the Roman province officially known as Achaia (BDAG 318 s.v. ῾Ελλάς). 820:3tn BDAG 841 s.v. ποιέω 5.c, “w. an acc. of time spend, stay.” 920:3tn The participle βενομένης (benomenh") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. L&N 30.71 has “ἐπιβουλῆς αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων ‘because the Jews had made a plot against him’ Ac 20:3.” 1020:3sn This plot is one of several noted by Luke (Acts 9:20; 20:19; 23:30). 1120:3tn BDAG 628 s.v. μέλλω 1.c.γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind…Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30.” 1220:3tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4 gives “put out to sea” here (as a nautical technical term). However, since the English expression “put out to sea” could be understood to mean Paul was already aboard the ship (which is not clear from the context), the simpler expression “sail” is used at this point in the translation. 1320:3tn BDAG 199 s.v. γίνομαι 7 has “ἐγένετο γνώμης he decided Ac 20:3.” 1420:3sn Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece. 1520:4tn Grk “He”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 1620:4sn Berea (alternate spelling in NRSV Beroea; Greek Beroia) was a very old city in Macedonia on the river Astraeus about 45 mi (75 km) from Thessalonica.map For location see JP1-C1; JP2-C1; JP3-C1; JP4-C1. 1720:4tn Grk “of the Thessalonians.”map For location see JP1-C1; JP2-C1; JP3-C1; JP4-C1. 1820:4tn Grk “and Gaius,” but this καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more. 1920:4sn Derbe was a city in Lycaonia about 30 mi (50 km) southeast of Lystra.map For location see JP1-E2; JP2-E2; JP3-E2. 2020:4tn Grk “the Asians Tychicus and Trophimus.” In the NT “Asia” always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia. 2120:5tn Grk “These, having gone on ahead, were waiting.” The participle προελθόντες (proelqonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 2220:5sn Troas was a port city (and surrounding region) on the northwest coast of Asia Minor. 2320:6sn This marks the beginning of another “we” section in Acts. These have been traditionally understood to mean that Luke was in the company of Paul for this part of the journey. 2420:6map For location see JP1-C1; JP2-C1; JP3-C1; JP4-C1. 2520:6sn The days of Unleavened Bread refer to the week following Passover. Originally an agricultural festival commemorating the beginning of harvest, it was celebrated for seven days beginning on the fifteenth day of the month Nisan (March-April). It was later combined with Passover (Exod 12:1-20; Ezek 45:21-24; Matt 26:17; Luke 22:1). 2620:6tn BDAG 160 s.v. ἄχρι 1.a.α has “ἄ. ἡμερῶν πέντε within five days Ac 20:6.” 2720:6tn Grk “to them”; the referent (the others mentioned in v. 4) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 2820:6sn Troas was a port city (and surrounding region) on the northwest coast of Asia Minor. From Philippi to Troas was about 125 mi (200 km). 2920:7sn On the first day. This is the first mention of a Sunday gathering (1 Cor 16:2). 3020:7tn Or “assembled.” 3120:7tn The verb διαλέγομαι (dialegomai) is frequently used of Paul addressing Jews in the synagogue. As G. Schrenk (TDNT 2:94-95) points out, “What is at issue is the address which any qualified member of a synagogue might give.” Other examples of this may be found in the NT in Matt 4:23 and Mark 1:21. In the context of a Christian gathering, it is preferable to translate διελέγετο (dielegeto) simply as “speak” here. The imperfect verb διελέγετο has been translated as an ingressive imperfect. 3220:7tn BDAG 628 s.v. μέλλω 1.c.γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind…Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30.” 3320:7tn Or “prolonged.” 3420:8tn More commonly λαμπάς (lampa") means “torch,” but here according to BDAG 585 s.v. λαμπάς 2, “lamp…w. a wick and space for oil.” 3520:8sn This is best taken as a parenthetical note by the author. 3620:9tn This window was probably a simple opening in the wall (see also BDAG 462 s.v. θυρίς). 3720:9tn Grk “sinking into a deep sleep.” BDAG 529 s.v. καταφέρω 3 has “ὕπνῳ βαθεῖ sink into a deep sleep…Ac 20:9a.” The participle καταφερόμενος (kataferomeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 3820:9tn The participle διαλεγομένου (dialegomenou) has been taken temporally. 3920:9tn BDAG 529 s.v. καταφέρω 3 has “κατενεχθεὶς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὔπνου overwhelmed by sleep vs. 9b,” but this expression is less common in contemporary English than phrases like “fast asleep” or “sound asleep.” 4020:10tn Grk “going down.” The participle καταβάς (katabas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 4120:10tn BDAG 377 s.v. ἐπιπίπτω 1.b has “ἐπέπεσεν αὐτῷ he threw himself upon him Ac 20:10.” 4220:10tn Grk “on him”; the referent (the young man) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 4320:10tn BDAG 959 s.v. συμπεριλαμβάνω has “to throw one’s arms around, embrace w. acc. to be supplied Ac 20:10.” However, “embraced the young man” might be taken (out of context) to have erotic implications, while “threw his arms around him” would be somewhat redundant since “threw” has been used in the previous phrase. 4420:10tn Grk “for his life is in him” (an idiom). 4520:11tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 4620:11tn Grk “going back upstairs.” The participle ἀναβάς (anabas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 4720:11tn Grk “talking with them.” The participle ὁμιλήσας (Jomilhsas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 4820:12tn Grk “were not to a moderate degree” (an idiom). L&N 78.11 states: “μετρίως: a moderate degree of some activity or state – ‘moderately, to a moderate extent.’ ἤγαγον δὲ τὸν παῖδα ζῶντα, καὶ παρεκλήθησαν οὐ μετρίωθς ‘they took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted’ Ac 20:12. In Ac 20:12 the phrase οὐ μετρίως, literally ‘not to a moderate degree,’ is equivalent to a strong positive statement, namely, ‘greatly’ or ‘to a great extent.’” 4920:13tn Grk “going on ahead.” The participle προελθόντες (proelqonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 5020:13tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (ἀ. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.” 5120:13sn Assos was a city of Mysia about 24 mi (40 km) southeast of Troas. 5220:13tn BDAG 628 s.v. μέλλω 1.c.γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind…Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30.” 5320:13tn Or “for he told us to do this.” Grk “for having arranged it this way, he.” The participle διατεταγμένος (diatetagmeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. BDAG 237 s.v. διατάσσω 1 has “οὕτως διατεταγμένος ἦν he had arranged it so Ac 20:13.” L&N 15.224 has “‘he told us to do this.” 5420:13tn A new sentence was begun here in the translation because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence; in Greek this is part of the preceding sentence beginning “We went on ahead.” 5520:13tn BDAG 628 s.v. μέλλω 1.c.γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind…Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30.” 5620:13tn Or “there on foot.” 5720:14sn Assos was a city of Mysia about 24 mi (40 km) southeast of Troas. 5820:14tn Grk “taking him aboard, we.” The participle ἀναλαβόντες (analabonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 5920:14sn Mitylene was the most important city on the island of Lesbos in the Aegean Sea. It was about 44 mi (70 km) from Assos. 6020:15tn Grk “setting sail from there.” The participle ἀποπλεύσαντες (apopleusante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 6120:15tn Or “offshore from Chios.”sn Chios was an island in the Aegean Sea off the western coast of Asia Minor with a city of the same name. 6220:15tn Or “crossed over to,” “arrived at.” L&N 54.12 has “παραβάλλω: (a technical, nautical term) to sail up to or near – ‘to approach, to arrive at, to sail to.’ παρεβάλομεν εἰς Σάμον ‘we approached Samos’ or ‘we arrived at Samos’ Ac 20:15.” 6320:15sn Samos is an island in the Aegean Sea off the western coast of Asia Minor. 6420:15sn Miletus was a seaport on the western coast of Asia Minor about 40 mi (70 km) south of Ephesus. From Mitylene to Miletus was about 125 mi (200 km). 6520:16map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2. 6620:16tn Grk “so that he might not have to spend time.” L&N 67.79 has “ὅπως μὴ γένηται αὐτῷ χρονοτριβῆσαι ἐν τῇ ᾿Ασίᾳ ‘so as not to spend any time in the province of Asia’ Ac 20:16.” 6720:16tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia. 6820:16tn Or “was eager.” 6920:16map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 7020:16tn Grk “if it could be to him” (an idiom). 7120:17sn Miletus was a seaport on the western coast of Asia Minor about 45 mi (72 km) south of Ephesus. 7220:17tn The words “a message” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader. 7320:17tn The words “to him” are not in the Greek text but are implied. L&N 33.311 has for the verb μετακαλέομαι (metakaleomai) “to summon someone, with considerable insistence and authority – ‘to summon, to tell to come.’” 7420:18tn Grk “You yourselves know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time.” This could be understood to mean “how I stayed with you the whole time,” but the following verses make it clear that Paul’s lifestyle while with the Ephesians is in view here. Thus the translation “how I lived the whole time I was with you” makes this clear. 7520:18tn Or “I arrived.” BDAG 367 s.v. ἐπιβαίνω 2, “set foot in…εἰς τ. ᾿Ασίαν set foot in Asia Ac 20:18.” However, L&N 15.83 removes the idiom: “you know that since the first day that I came to Asia.” 7620:18tn Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. 16. 7720:19sn On humility see 2 Cor 10:1; 11:7; 1 Thess 2:6; Col 3:12; Eph 4:2; Phil 2:3-11. 7820:19sn These plots are mentioned in Acts 9:24; 20:13. 7920:20tn Or “declaring.” 8020:20tn Or “profitable.” BDAG 960 s.v. συμφέρω 2.b.α has “τὰ συμφέροντα what advances your best interests or what is good for you Ac 20:20,” but the broader meaning (s.v. 2, “to be advantageous, help, confer a benefit, be profitable/useful”) is equally possible in this context. 8120:20tn Or “openly.” 8220:21tn BDAG 233 s.v. διαμαρτύρομαι 1 has “testify of, bear witness to (orig. under oath)…of repentance to Judeans and Hellenes Ac 20:21.” 8320:21tc Several mss, including some of the more important ones (Ì74 א Α C [D] E 33 36 323 945 1175 1241 1505 1739 pm and a number of versions), read Χριστόν (Criston, “Christ”) at the end of this verse. This word is lacking in B H L P Ψ 614 pm. Although the inclusion is supported by many earlier and better mss, internal evidence is on the side of the omission: In Acts, both “Lord Jesus” and “Lord Jesus Christ” occur, though between 16:31 and the end of the book “Lord Jesus Christ” appears only in 28:31, perhaps as a kind of climactic assertion. Thus, the shorter reading is to be preferred.sn Repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. Note the twofold description of the message. It is a turning to God involving faith in Jesus Christ. 8420:22tn Grk “And now, behold.” Here ἰδού (idou) has not been translated. 8520:22tn Grk “bound.” 8620:22sn This journey to Jerusalem suggests a parallel between Paul and Jesus, since the “Jerusalem journey” motif figures so prominently in Luke’s Gospel (9:51-19:44). 8720:22tn BDAG 965 s.v. συναντάω 2 has τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ συναντήσοντα ἐμοὶ μὴ εἰδώς without knowing what will happen to me there Ac 20:22.” 8820:23tn BDAG 826 s.v. πλήν 1.d has “πλὴν ὅτι except that…Ac 20:23.” 8920:23tn The verb διαμαρτύρομαι (diamarturomai) can mean “warn” (BDAG 233 s.v. διαμαρτύρομαι 2 has “solemnly urge, exhort, warn…w. dat. of pers. addressed”), and this meaning better fits the context here, although BDAG categorizes Acts 20:23 under the meaning “testify of, bear witness to” (s.v. 1). 9020:23tn The Greek text here reads κατὰ πόλιν (kata polin). 9120:23tn Grk “saying that,” but the participle λέγον (legon) is redundant in English and has not been translated. 9220:23tn Grk “bonds.” 9320:23tn Or “troubles,” “suffering.” See Acts 19:21; 21:4, 11. 9420:24tn Grk “soul.” 9520:24tn Or “I do not consider my life worth a single word.” According to BDAG 599 s.v. λόγος 1.a.α, “In the textually uncertain pass. Ac 20:24 the text as it stands in N., οὐδενὸς λόγου (v.l. λόγον) ποιοῦμαι τὴν ψυχὴν τιμίαν, may well mean: I do not consider my life worth a single word (cp. λόγου ἄξιον [ἄξιος 1a] and our ‘worth mention’).” 9620:24tn BDAG 1106 s.v. ὡς 9 describes this use as “a final particle, expressing intention/purpose, with a view to, in order to.” 9720:24tn Grk “course.” See L&N 42.26, “(a figurative extension of meaning of δρόμος ‘race’) a task or function involving continuity, serious, effort, and possibly obligation – ‘task, mission’…Ac 20:24.” On this Pauline theme see also Phil 1:19-26; Col 1:24; 2 Tim 4:6-7. 9820:24tn Or “to the gospel.” 9920:25tn Grk “And now, behold.” Here ἰδού (idou) has not been translated. 10020:25tn Grk “all of you…will not see.” Greek handles its negation somewhat differently from English, and the translation follows English grammatical conventions. 10120:25sn Note how Paul’s usage of the expression proclaiming the kingdom is associated with (and intertwined with) his testifying to the good news of God’s grace in v. 24. For Paul the two concepts were interrelated. 10220:25tn Grk “will see my face” (an idiom for seeing someone in person). 10320:26tn Or “testify.” 10420:26tn Grk “clean, pure,” thus “guiltless” (BDAG 489 s.v. καθαρός 3.a).sn I am innocent. Paul had a clear conscience, since he had faithfully carried out his responsibility of announcing to (the Ephesians) the whole purpose of God. 10520:26tn That is, “that if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible” (an idiom). According to L&N 33.223, the meaning of the phrase “that I am innocent of the blood of all of you” is “that if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible.” However, due to the length of this phrase and its familiarity to many modern English readers, the translation was kept closer to formal equivalence in this case. The word “you” is not in the Greek text, but is implied; Paul is addressing the Ephesian congregation (in the person of its elders) in both v. 25 and 27. 10620:27tn Or “did not avoid.” BDAG 1041 s.v. ὑποστέλλω 2.b has “shrink from, avoid implying fear…οὐ γὰρ ὑπεστειλάμην τοῦ μὴ ἀναγγεῖλαι I did not shrink from proclaiming Ac 20:27”; L&N 13.160 has “to hold oneself back from doing something, with the implication of some fearful concern – ‘to hold back from, to shrink from, to avoid’…‘for I have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God’ Ac 20:27.” 10720:27tn Or “proclaiming,” “declaring.” 10820:27tn Or “plan.” 10920:28tn Or “Be on your guard for” (cf. v. 29). Paul completed his responsibility to the Ephesians with this warning. 11020:28tn Grk “in which.” 11120:28tn Or “guardians.” BDAG 379-80 s.v. ἐπίσκοπος 2 states, “The term was taken over in Christian communities in ref. to one who served as overseer or supervisor, with special interest in guarding the apostolic tradition…Ac 20:28.” This functional term describes the role of the elders (see v. 17). They were to guard and shepherd the congregation. 11220:28tc The reading “of God” (τοῦ θεοῦ, tou qeou) is found in א B 614 1175 1505 al vg sy; other witnesses have “of the Lord” (τοῦ κυρίου, tou kuriou) here (so Ì74 A C* D E Ψ 33 1739 al co), while the majority of the later minuscule mss conflate these two into “of the Lord and God” (τοῦ κυρίου καὶ [τοῦ] θεοῦ, tou kuriou kai [tou] qeou). Although the evidence is evenly balanced between the first two readings, τοῦ θεοῦ is decidedly superior on internal grounds. The final prepositional phrase of this verse, διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἰδίου (dia tou {aimato" tou idiou), could be rendered “through his own blood” or “through the blood of his own.” In the latter translation, the object that “own” modifies must be supplied (see tn below for discussion). But this would not be entirely clear to scribes; those who supposed that ἰδίου modified αἵματος would be prone to alter “God” to “Lord” to avoid the inference that God had blood. In a similar way, later scribes would be prone to conflate the two titles, thereby affirming the deity (with the construction τοῦ κυρίου καὶ θεοῦ following the Granville Sharp rule and referring to a single person [see ExSyn 272, 276-77, 290]) and substitutionary atonement of Christ. For these reasons, τοῦ θεοῦ best explains the rise of the other readings and should be considered authentic. 11320:28tn Or “acquired.” 11420:28tn Or “with his own blood”; Grk “with the blood of his own.” The genitive construction could be taken in two ways: (1) as an attributive genitive (second attributive position) meaning “his own blood”; or (2) as a possessive genitive, “with the blood of his own.” In this case the referent is the Son, and the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity. See further C. F. DeVine, “The Blood of God,” CBQ 9 (1947): 381-408.sn That he obtained with the blood of his own Son. This is one of only two explicit statements in Luke-Acts highlighting the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death (the other is in Luke 22:19). 11520:29tn Grk “after my departure.” 11620:29tn That is, people like fierce wolves. See BDAG 167-68 s.v. βαρύς 4 on the term translated “fierce.” The battle that will follow would be a savage one. 11720:30tn Grk “from among yourselves.” 11820:30tn The Greek term here is ἀνήρ (anhr), which only rarely is used in a generic sense to refer to both males and females. Since Paul is speaking to the Ephesian elders at this point and there is nothing in the context to suggest women were included in that group (“from among your own group”), it is most likely Paul was not predicting that these false teachers would include women. 11920:30tn Grk “speaking crooked things”; BDAG 237 s.v. διαστρέφω 2 has “λαλεῖν διεστραμμένα teach perversions (of the truth) Ac 20:30.”sn These perversions of the truth refer to the kinds of threats that would undermine repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. v. 21). Instead these false teachers would arise from within the Ephesian congregation (cf. 1 John 2:18-19) and would seek to draw the disciples away after them. 12020:31tn Or “be watchful.” 12120:31tn Or “admonishing.” 12220:32tn Or “commend.” BDAG 772 s.v. παρατίθημι 3.b has “τινά τινι entrust someone to the care or protection of someone…Of divine protection παρέθεντο αὐτοὺς τῷ κυρίῳ Ac 14:23; cp. 20:32.” 12320:32tn Grk “word.” 12420:32tn Grk “the message of his grace, which.” The phrase τῷ δυναμένῳ οἰκοδομῆσαι… (tw dunamenw oikodomhsai…) refers to τῷ λόγω (tw logw), not τῆς χάριτος (ths caritos); in English it could refer to either “the message” or “grace,” but in Greek, because of agreement in gender, the referent can only be “the message.” To make this clear, a new sentence was begun in the translation and the referent “the message” was repeated at the beginning of this new sentence. 12520:33tn Traditionally, “coveted.” BDAG 371 s.v. ἐπιθυμέω 1 has “to have a strong desire to do or secure someth., desire, long for w. gen. of the thing desired…silver, gold, clothing Ac 20:33.” The traditional term “covet” is not in common usage and difficult for many modern English readers to understand. The statement affirms Paul’s integrity. He was not doing this for personal financial gain. 12620:34tn The words “of mine” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to clarify whose hands Paul is referring to. 12720:35sn The expression By all these things means “In everything I did.” 12820:35tn Or “must assist.” 12920:35tn Or “the sick.” See Eph 4:28. 13020:35sn The saying is similar to Matt 10:8. Service and generosity should be abundant. Interestingly, these exact words are not found in the gospels. Paul must have known of this saying from some other source. 13120:36tn Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here. 13220:36tn Grk “kneeling down…he prayed.” The participle θείς (qeis) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 13320:37tn Grk “weeping a great deal,” thus “loudly” (BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός and BDAG 546 s.v. κλαυθμός). 13420:37tn Grk “fell on Paul’s neck” (an idiom, see BDAG 1014 s.v. τράχηλος). 13520:37sn The Ephesians elders kissed Paul as a sign of both affection and farewell. The entire scene shows how much interrelationship Paul had in his ministry and how much he and the Ephesians meant to each other. 13620:38tn Or “pained.” 13720:38tn Grk “by the word that he had said.” 13820:38tn Grk “to see his face” (an idiom for seeing someone in person). 13920:38tn BDAG 873 s.v. προπέμπω 1 has “they accompanied him to the ship Ac 20:38.”
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