Acts 20 — Clausal Layout (English)

independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended

Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)

Through Macedonia to Greece — and the plot 20:1–6

vv. 1–3 — Ephesus left behind: the circuit, the three months, the plot

And after the uproar had ceased,phrase modifier — preposed temporal — μετά + articular infinitive; the riot of ch. 19 subsides; leans on ἐξῆλθεν

Paul, having summoned the disciples and encouraged them,participial — the pastoral triad begins — summon, encourage, farewell; leans on ἐξῆλθεν

said farewell and departed to go to Macedonia.independent — the third participle folded into the main clause — the departure itself

and having gone through those regions and encouraged them with much discourse,participial — the Macedonian circuit compressed to two participles — λόγῳ πολλῷ, dative of means; leans on ἦλθεν

he came to Greece.independent — Achaia — Corinth the likely base (18:11)

And having spent three months there,participial — ποιεῖν + accusative of time — the winter in Greece; leans on ἐγένετο

when a plot arose against him from the Jewsparticipial — genitive absolute — the complication that reverses the route

as he was about to set sail for Syria,participial — dative participle agreeing with αὐτῷ — the plot timed for the pilgrim ship

he formed the resolve to return through Macedonia.independent — ἐγένετο γνώμης — the idiom of decision; the detour that shapes the chapter

vv. 4–6 — the delegation ahead; the 'we' resumes at Philippi

And there accompanied him Sopater son of Pyrrhus, a Beroean,independent — the roster opens — seven delegates by region, almost certainly the collection delegation (Rom 15:25–28)

and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus,phrase modifier — verbless roster line — Thessalonica's pair

and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy,phrase modifier — the Lycaonians — Timothy of Lystra beside the Derbean Gaius

and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.phrase modifier — Asia's pair closes the roster — Trophimus reappears at 21:29

These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas.independent — ἡμᾶς — the 'we' narrative resumes (cf. 16:17): the narrator rejoins Paul at Philippi

And we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread,independent — after Passover week — the datable itinerary of the 'we' source

and in five days we came to them at Troas,independent — five days against the wind — two going the other way (16:11)

where we stayed seven days.relative — the week that includes the Sunday of v. 7

Eutychus at Troas 20:7–12

vv. 7–9 — the first day of the week: bread, lamps, midnight — and the fall

And on the first day of the week, when we had gathered to break bread,participial — genitive absolute — among the earliest witnesses to the Sunday assembly; κλάσαι ἄρτον its eucharistic purpose (2:42)

Paul was discoursing with them,independent — progressive imperfect — the teaching dialogue runs on

intending to depart on the next day,participial — the motive for the length — a last night

and he prolonged the discourse until midnight.independent — παρατείνω — NT hapax; the midnight-prolonged speech

Now there were many lamps in the upper roomindependent — parenthetical setting — heat and smoke for the sleeper, witnesses for the apologist

where we were gathered.relative — periphrastic perfect — the 'we' among the assembled

And a young man named Eutychus, sitting in the window,participial — the third-story window seat — 'Fortunate,' ironically named; leans on ἔπεσεν

being sunk in deep sleep,participial — present participle — the sinking still in progress

as Paul discoursed on and on,participial — genitive absolute — the sermon's length is the narrative cause

overcome by the sleep,participial — aorist now — the progression completed (καταφερόμενος → κατενεχθείς)

he fell down from the third storyindependent — the verb the four participles were loading — τρίστεγον, the third floor

and was picked up dead.independent — νεκρός without qualification — Luke does not equivocate

vv. 10–12 — Paul's embrace, the word of life, the comfort

But Paul, having gone down,participial — the descent to the body; leans on ἐπέπεσεν

fell upon him,independent — ἐπιπίπτω — the Elijah–Elisha gesture (1 Kgs 17:21; 2 Kgs 4:34)

and embracing him,participial — the embrace before the word; leans on εἶπεν

he said:independent — the speech-frame

'Do not be alarmed,content — the μὴ-θορυβεῖσθε word — the θόρυβος of v. 1 echoed in the verb

for his life is in him.'cause — 1 Kgs 17:21–22 LXX — the Elijah echo; returned or never absent, Luke lets v. 12 answer

And having gone back up and broken the bread and eaten,participial — the interrupted meal completed — the assembly's purpose (v. 7) fulfilled; leans on ἐξῆλθεν

and having talked with them a long while, until daybreak,participial — ὁμιλέω — the gentler after-supper word; dawn ends what midnight could not

so he departed.independent — οὕτως — only then, the farewell complete

And they brought the boy alive,independent — ζῶντα answers νεκρός (v. 9) — the episode's resolution

and were not a little comforted.independent — litotes — οὐ μετρίως; παρακαλέω, the chapter's pastoral verb, closes the scene

The voyage to Miletus — hurrying for Pentecost 20:13–17

vv. 13–15 — the coastal log: Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, Miletus

But we, having gone ahead to the ship,participial — the 'we' back on board; leans on ἀνήχθημεν

set sail for Assos,independent — ἀνάγεσθαι — the nautical technical term of the Acts sea-log

intending from there to take Paul aboard;participial — the rendezvous plan

for so he had arranged it,cause — periphrastic pluperfect middle — Paul's own disposition of the route

he himself intending to go on foot.participial — πεζεύω, NT hapax — the c. 32 km walk to Assos, alone

And when he met us at Assos,comparative — temporal ὡς — imperfect συνέβαλλεν, the meeting as it happened; leans on ἤλθομεν

taking him aboard,participial — the plan of v. 13 executed; leans on ἤλθομεν

we came to Mitylene.independent — the chief city of Lesbos — day one of the log

And sailing thence,participial — crasis κἀκεῖθεν; leans on κατηντήσαμεν

on the following day we arrived opposite Chios,independent — day two — standing off the island

on the next day we crossed over to Samos,independent — day three — παραβάλλω, the coaster's touch

and on the day following we came to Miletus.independent — day four — the day-by-day precision of the eyewitness log

vv. 16–17 — past Ephesus for Pentecost; the elders sent for

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus,independent — pluperfect κεκρίκει — the decision prior and settled

so that he might not have to spend time in Asia;purpose — χρονοτριβέω, NT hapax — Ephesus would have cost him days

for he was hurrying,independent — imperfect — the pressure under the whole itinerary

if it should be possible for him,conditional — optative εἴη — the one contingency admitted; backward-leaning on ἔσπευδεν

to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.purpose — goal-infinitive with ἔσπευδεν — fifty days from the Passover of v. 6, and the clock is running

And from Miletus, sending to Ephesus,participial — leans on μετεκαλέσατο — Paul cannot go to the elders, so they come the c. 50 km to him

he summoned the elders of the church.independent — πρεσβύτεροι who are ἐπίσκοποι (v. 28) — one college, two titles

The Miletus farewell 20:18–35

v. 18a — the frame: one εἶπεν carries the whole speech

And when they had come to him,comparative — temporal ὡς — leans on εἶπεν

he said to them:independent — the only speech in Acts addressed to Christians — a testament in the Greek farewell tradition; everything to v. 35 hangs here

vv. 18b–21 — the recital: you know how I lived among you

'You yourselves know —content — the testamentary appeal to witnesses — emphatic ὑμεῖς

from the first day on which I set foot in Asia —phrase modifier — preposed with the πῶς-clause — read with ἐγενόμην; the whole Ephesian ministry in view

how I was with you the whole time,content — indirect question — the first limb of what they know

serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and with the trials that befell me through the plots of the Jews;participial — the slave's word for the apostle's work — humility, tears, trials: the triad v. 31 will repeat

how I kept back nothing that was profitablecontent — second limb — ὑποστέλλω, the sailor's 'shorten sail'; echoed at v. 27

so as not to declare it to you and to teach you publicly and from house to house,content — τοῦ μή + infinitive after the verb of shrinking — ministry public and domestic

testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.participial — the message in sum — repentance and faith; [Χριστόν] bracketed (om. P74 ℵ*)

vv. 22–24 — bound in the Spirit: the life not worth an account

And now, behold, bound in the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,content — καὶ νῦν — the testamentary pivot from retrospect to prospect; δεδεμένος perfect, the constraint already in force

not knowing the things that will meet me there,participial — future participle as object — the road known, the events not

except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city,content — the one exception — κατὰ πόλιν distributive, the warnings repeat at every stop

saying that bonds and afflictions await me.content — futuristic present μένουσιν — they are already waiting

But on no account do I count my life precious to myself,content — the οὐδενὸς-λόγου life-valuation idiom — the adversative answer to the Spirit's warnings

if only I may finish my course and the ministrypurpose — ὡς + infinitive of purpose — the runner's δρόμος (cf. 2 Tim 4:7)

which I received from the Lord Jesus,relative — the commission — not chosen but given

to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.content — epexegetic infinitive — the ministry defined; χάρις the word the speech will end on (v. 32)

vv. 25–27 — the face seen no more; innocent of the blood of all

And now, behold, I knowcontent — the second καὶ νῦν ἰδού — the solemn farewell announcement

that you all will see my face no more —content — the you-will-see-my-face-no-more word — the sentence v. 38 will weep over

you among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom.relative — the kingdom — the frame of Paul's preaching in Acts (19:8; 28:31)

Therefore I testify to you this very daycontent — performative μαρτύρομαι — a declaration before witnesses, dated

that I am clean of the blood of all;content — the innocent-of-all-blood declaration — Ezekiel's watchman discharged (Ezek 33:1–9)

for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.cause — ὑπεστειλάμην again — the anaphora with v. 20 closing the self-defense; πᾶσαν τὴν βουλήν, nothing withheld

vv. 28–31 — the charge: watch the flock, for wolves are coming

Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock,content — the charge proper — yourselves first, then the whole flock

in which the Holy Spirit set you as overseers,relative — πρεσβύτεροι (v. 17) = ἐπίσκοποι — appointed by the Spirit, not the apostle

to shepherd the church of God,purpose — τοῦ θεοῦ — the chapter's great textual crux (P74 ℵ B; many witnesses ease to κυρίου)

which he obtained through his own blood.relative — 'his own blood' — or 'the blood of his Own' (cf. Rom 8:32); either way the highest Christology in Acts

I knowcontent — the solemn οἶδα again (v. 25) — prophetic foresight now

that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you,content — the wolves warning — Ezek 22:27; Zeph 3:3; the shepherd-language turned to threat

not sparing the flock;participial — the flock of v. 28 — now the prey

and that from among your own selves men will arise,content — the threat within — ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν, from this very college of elders

speaking twisted things,participial — διεστραμμένα — doctrine bent out of true

so as to draw away the disciples after them.purpose — τοῦ + infinitive of purpose — disciples detached to follow men

Therefore keep watch,content — the watchman's imperative — γρηγορεῖτε

remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not ceaseparticipial — the three-years reminder — the ministry of 19:8–10 totalled

admonishing each single one with tears.participial — with tears — the triad of v. 19 returns; ἕνα ἕκαστον, one by one

vv. 32–35 — the commendation, the clean hands, and the Lord's unwritten word

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace,content — παρατίθεμαι — the deposit entrusted to a double custodian

which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all the sanctified.participial — attributive participle — read with the word (the nearer head), though God too is the one who is able

No one's silver or gold or clothing did I covet;content — the coveted-no-one's-silver close opens — Samuel's farewell echoed (1 Sam 12:3)

you yourselves knowcontent — the appeal to eyewitnesses again (v. 18)

that these hands ministered to my needs and to those who were with me.content — αἱ χεῖρες αὗται — the deictic gesture: the tentmaker's hands held up

In everything I showed youcontent — the example as instruction — ὑποδείκνυμι, teaching by demonstration

that laboring in this way we must help the weak,content — the ethic of the hands — labor for the sake of the ἀσθενοῦντες

and must remember the words of the Lord Jesus,content — the second δεῖ-infinitive — memory as duty

how he himself said:content — αὐτός — the Lord's own voice invoked, a saying-frame inside the speech

'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'content — the agraphon — the one saying of Jesus in the NT found in no Gospel; the speech ends on the Lord's word

The parting at the ship 20:36–38

vv. 36–38 — the kneeling prayer, the weeping, the escort

And having said these things,participial — the Lukan speech-closing formula; leans on προσηύξατο

kneeling down,participial — θεὶς τὰ γόνατα — the posture of intense supplication (7:60; 21:5)

he prayed with them all.independent — the speech ends in prayer — σὺν πᾶσιν, no one outside it

And there was much weeping among them all,independent — ἱκανός — the Lukan measure-word (v. 8); the grief is general

and falling on Paul's neck,participial — the neck-embrace — the OT farewell gesture (Gen 45:14; Luke 15:20); leans on κατεφίλουν

they kissed him again and again,independent — imperfect of the intensive compound — the kissing repeated

grieving most of all over the wordparticipial — ὀδυνώμενοι — the anguish fixed on one sentence

which he had spoken,relative — pluperfect εἰρήκει — the word already standing over them

that they were going to see his face no more.content — v. 25 repeated in the narrator's voice — the grieving-most-over-the-face-no-more note

And they escorted him to the ship.independent — imperfect προέπεμπον — the escort all the way to the water; the 'we' sails with him (21:1)

Analysis. Acts 20 is two shapes joined at v. 17. The travel narrative (vv. 1–16) reads like Mark: flush-left purple main verbs — he departed, he came, we sailed, we arrived — with the preposed aorist participles of the itinerary leaning forward, anchor-less, on the verbs below them, and the 'we' resuming unannounced at ἡμᾶς in v. 5 (tagged) to run the coastal day-log of vv. 13–15. Inside it the Eutychus night at Troas (vv. 7–12) is framed by the purpose it began with — gathered κλάσαι ἄρτον, the bread finally broken only after the boy is raised — the fall built of four stacked participles before ἔπεσεν strikes, and Paul's one sentence hanging blue under εἶπεν. The Miletus farewell (vv. 18–35) then inverts the picture: a single narrative εἶπεν at the margin and eighteen verses of speech beneath it, the main assertions a constant-depth cnt catena (you know — bound in the Spirit I go — I count my life nothing — you will see my face no more — I am clean — take heed — I know wolves will come — watch — I commend you — I coveted nothing — I showed you), each movement labeled, the dependents chaining down to the agraphon at the bottom of the final chain — μακάριόν ἐστιν μᾶλλον διδόναι ἢ λαμβάνειν, a saying of Jesus preserved in no Gospel, quoted through a verb of saying inside the quoted speech itself. Cruxes taken or flagged: τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ printed at v. 28 (the Alexandrian reading, against κυρίου) with διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἰδίου left open between 'his own blood' and 'the blood of his Own'; [Χριστόν] bracketed at v. 21; τῷ δυναμένῳ (v. 32) read with the word as the nearer head; ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ (v. 10) tagged as the Elijah echo, with v. 12's ζῶντα left to answer whether the life returned or never left.