And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. Acts 20:9 (Read Acts 20:7-12)
At the close of Paul’s seven days in Troas, when he knew he and his men would be leaving the next day, the church there gathered together to “break bread,” likely including a celebration of the Lord’s Supper followed by a meal, and to hear Paul talk one last time.
The building they were in had three stories and they met in the upper room. When darkness fell they lit many lamps in order to see the Apostle. The room was jammed packed and Eutychus, an agile young man, found himself a nice perch in the window sill. Luke tells us Paul began talking, perhaps to setup taking the Lord’s Supper, but apparently his remarks went on until midnight.
Meanwhile, Eutychus became drowsy and fell into a deep sleep, perhaps hastened by the intoxicating lamp fumes in the air or Paul’s long windedness, but probably both, since Luke mentions both. Then suddenly Eutychus disappears from his perch and a loud thud is heard below. Chaos ensues in the room as they rush outside. There the boy lies lifeless and the people begin to moan and wail. Then Paul pushes his way through the grieving crowd, sees the boy, and falls on him (as did Elijah and Elisha). The people are stunned to see the boy return to life, as Paul says, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” (v. 10)
One would think this would be enough excitement for one night, but the group finally breaks bread, and Paul takes up where he left off, with closing prayer at daybreak. And we complain when the preacher runs long and our lattes have been drained!
What do we learn from a story like this? That there’s a good reason for building codes? No. That we should yearn more for the word of God than food? Yes. That good preachers should leave no stone unturned? Yes. That our God is a God of miracles? Yes. That churches should put a premium on assembling together? Yes. That taking the Lord’s Supper is an important part of our gatherings? Yes.
If all these objectives are met you can’t help but think “you went to church!”
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