Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 After the uproar had ceased, Sha'ul sent for the talmidim, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.
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With things back to normal, Paul called the disciples together and encouraged them to keep up the good work in Ephesus. Then, saying his good-byes, he left for Macedonia.
2 When he had gone through those parts, and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece.
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Traveling through the country, passing from one gathering to another, he gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope.
3 When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Yehudim as he was about to set sail for Aram, he determined to return through Macedonia.
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and stayed on for three months. Just as he was about to sail for Syria, the Jews cooked up a plot against him. So he went the other way, by land back through Macedonia, and gave them the slip.
4 These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
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His companions for the journey were Sopater, son of Pyrrhus, from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus, both Thessalonians; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and the two from western Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
5 But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas.
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They went on ahead and waited for us in Troas.
6 We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.
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Meanwhile, we stayed in Philippi for Passover Week, and then set sail. Within five days we were again in Troas and stayed a week.
7 On the first day of the week, when the talmidim were gathered together to break bread, Sha'ul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and continued his speech until midnight.
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We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master's Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight.
8 There were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered together.
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We were meeting in a well-lighted upper room.
9 A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed down with deep sleep. As Sha'ul spoke still longer, being weighed down by his sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.
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A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead.
10 Sha'ul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, "Don't be troubled, for his life is in him."
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Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. "No more crying," he said. "There's life in him yet."
11 When he had gone up, and had broken bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.
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Then Paul got up and served the Master's Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left - Paul going one way,
12 They brought the boy alive, and were not a little comforted.
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the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life themselves.
13 But we who went ahead to the ship set sail for Assos, there intending to take in Sha'ul, for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land.
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In the meantime, the rest of us had gone on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we planned to pick up Paul. Paul wanted to walk there, and so had made these arrangements earlier.
14 When he met us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
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Things went according to plan: We met him in Assos, took him on board, and sailed to Mitylene.
15 Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus.
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The next day we put in opposite Chios, Samos a day later, and then Miletus.
16 For Sha'ul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Yerushalayim on the day of Shavu`ot.
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Paul had decided to bypass Ephesus so that he wouldn't be held up in Asia province. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem in time for the Feast of Pentecost, if at all possible.
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the Zakenim of the assembly.
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From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the leaders of the congregation.
18 When they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,
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When they arrived, he said, "You know that from day one of my arrival in Asia I was with you totally -
19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Yehudim;
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laying my life on the line, serving the Master no matter what, putting up with no end of scheming by Jews who wanted to do me in.
20 how I didn't shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,
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I didn't skimp or trim in any way. Every truth and encouragement that could have made a difference to you, you got. I taught you out in public and I taught you in your homes,
21 testifying both to Yehudim and to Yevanim repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
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urging Jews and Greeks alike to a radical life-change before God and an equally radical trust in our Master Jesus.
22 Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Yerushalayim, not knowing what will happen to me there;
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"But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I'm completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there.
23 except that the Ruach HaKodesh testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.
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I do know that it won't be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead.
24 But these things don't count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Yeshua, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
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But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.
25 Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
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"And so this is good-bye. You're not going to see me again, nor I you, you whom I have gone among for so long proclaiming the news of God's inaugurated kingdom.
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all men,
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I've done my best for you, given you my all,
27 for I didn't shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
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held back nothing of God's will for you.
28 Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Ruach HaKodesh has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
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"Now it's up to you. Be on your toes - both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people - God's people they are - to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for.
29 For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
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"I know that as soon as I'm gone, vicious wolves are going to show up and rip into this flock, men
30 Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the talmidim after them.
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from your very own ranks twisting words so as to seduce disciples into following them instead of Jesus.
31 Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn't cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.
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So stay awake and keep up your guard. Remember those three years I kept at it with you, never letting up, pouring my heart out with you, one after another.
32 Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
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"Now I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.
33 I coveted no one's silver, or gold, or clothing.
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"I've never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion.
34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me.
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With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me.
35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Yeshua, that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
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In everything I've done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, 'You're far happier giving than getting.'"
36 When he had spoken these things, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.
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Then Paul went down on his knees, all of them kneeling with him, and prayed.
37 They all wept a lot, and fell on Sha'ul's neck and kissed him,
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And then a river of tears. Much clinging to Paul, not wanting to let him go.
38 sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. They brought him on his way to the ship.
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They knew they would never see him again - he had told them quite plainly. The pain cut deep. Then, bravely, they walked him down to the ship.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.