“On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.”
Acts 20:7-12 NIV
Well, that was an unexpected interlude! Paul, as usual, made use of every opportunity to teach the believers, to encourage them and strengthen their faith. It didn’t matter to him whether it was day or night.
The church at Troas had gathered in an upstairs room for a meeting in the evening, not knowing that this special time with Paul would be an all-night event and would include a heart-stopping miracle in the mix.
On and on went Paul’s teaching session, hour after hour until midnight. Some were so intrigued by his words that they listened with eager intent. One young man, sitting on a windowsill, probably mesmerised by the flickering lamps, grew so drowsy as Paul droned on that he nodded off and fell fast asleep. Unfortunately for him, his perch on the window sill offered no comfort or protection. He not only dropped off to sleep…he also dropped off his seat in the window and fell…three storeys down to be exact…onto the hard ground below.
Pandemonium broke out. The people rushed downstairs, led by Paul. He threw himself on the lifeless body of Eutychus, calling on the name of the Lord. Then the miracle happened! Eutychus opened his eyes. He spoke. “What happened? Where am I?” He looked around, dazed and puzzled.
The people cheered. They laughed and cried. They celebrated and rejoiced. They went back upstairs, more convinced than ever that Jesus was alive and real among them. They feasted together and listened to Paul again until daylight. Paul continued where he had left off. No one wanted to go home.
What a night it had been! Never would the people of Troas forget this night when Jesus came in power to save the life of a young man who had fallen asleep in church!
This was such an amazing story that Luke just had to include it in his narrative about the church.
To be continued