MA’ASĔH 20

1 After the uproar had ceased, Sha’ul called the talmidim to him, and having embraced them, went away to go to Makedonia.

2 And having gone through those parts, and having encouraged them with many words, he came to Yawan,

3 where he spent three months. When he was about to sail to Suria, he decided to return through Makedonia, as a plot was made against him by the Yahuḏim.

4 And he was accompanied by Sopatros of Beroia, and Aristarḵos and Sekundos of the Thessalonians, and Gaios of Derbĕ, and Timotheos, and Tuḵikos and Trophimos of Asia.

5 And these, going ahead, waited for us at Troas.

6 And we sailed away from Philippos after the Days of Matstsoth, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.

7 And on one of the shabbathoth, the talmidim having gathered together to break bread, Sha’ul, intending to depart the next day, was reasoning with them and was extending the Word till midnight.

8 And there were many lamps in the upper room where they were assembled.

9 And a certain young man, by name Eutuḵos, was sitting in a window, being overpowered by a deep sleep. As Sha’ul kept on reasoning, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third storey, and was picked up dead.

10 And Sha’ul, having gone down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not be upset, for his life is in him.”

11 Then going up again, and having broken bread and eaten, he talked a long while, even till daybreak, and so went forth.

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

13 And we, going ahead to the ship, sailed to Assos, intending to take Sha’ul on board there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go on foot.

14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitulĕnĕ.

15 And from there we sailed, and the next day came opposite Ḵios. And the next day we arrived at Samos and remained at Trogullion. And the following day we came to Milĕtos.

16 For Sha’ul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he might lose no time in Asia, for he was hurrying to be at Yerushalayim, if possible, on the Day of the Festival of Shabuoth.

17 And from Milĕtos he sent to Ephesos and called for the elders of the assembly.

18 And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, how I was with you all the time,

19 serving the Aḏon with all humility, with many tears and trials which befell me by the plotting of the Yahuḏim,

20 as I kept back none that was profitable, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

21 witnessing to Yahuḏim, and also to Yawanites: repentance toward Elohim and belief in our Aḏon 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 ha’Mashiaḥ

22 “And now see, I go bound in the spirit, to Yerushalayim, not knowing what is going to meet me there,

23 except that the Ruaḥ ha’Qodesh witnesses in every city, saying that chains and pressures await me.

24 “But I do not count my life of any value to me, so that I might accomplish my mission with joy, and the service which I received from the Aḏon 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏, to bear witness to the Good News of the favour of Elohim.

25 “And now see, I know that you all, among whom I went about proclaiming the reign of Elohim, shall see my face no more.

26 “Therefore I witness to you this day that I am clear from the blood of all.

27 “For I did not keep back from declaring to you all the counsel of Elohim.

28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Ruaḥ ha’Qodesh has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of Elohim which He has purchased with His own blood.

29 “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves shall come in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 “Also from among yourselves men shall arise, speaking distortions, to draw away the talmidim after themselves.

31 “Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not cease to warn each one with tears.

32 “And now, brothers, I commit you to Elohim and to the Word of His favour, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those having been qadosh.

33 “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or garments.

34 “And you yourselves know that these hands supplied my needs, and for those who were with me.

35 “All this I showed you, by labouring like this, that you ought to help the weak. And remember the words of the Aḏon 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏, that He said, ‘It is more baruḵ to give than to receive.’ ”

36 And having said this, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

37 And there was much weeping among them all, and falling on Sha’ul’s neck, they kissed him,

38 distressed most of all because of the word which he had said, that they would see his face no more. And they went with him to the ship.