Scripture: On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 20:7-16 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Paul encourages his Ephesian disciples to continue the mission in his absence and says goodbye. Departing for Macedonia to join Timothy and Erastus, Paul visits and encourages church plants along the way to Troas. Upon arrival, Paul anxiously awaits Titus to bring news of the church’s health in Corinth. But with Titus’ no-show, Paul presses on to Macedonia via Philippi, where he celebrates the Passover. Once settled in Macedonia, Paul meets Titus and receives the good news that all is well in Corinth. After an extended stay in Macedonia, Paul travels to Corinth, staying three months. Still yearning to return to Jerusalem, Paul plans to sail for Palestine-Syria. But learning of a plot to assassinate him at sea, Paul instead travels north by land to Philippi, where he celebrates the feast. From Philippi, Paul sails back to Troas and stays for seven days. Lastly, Luke provides the names of Paul’s traveling companions and those who await him in Troas—all Greek converts from earlier missions. And Luke includes himself in verse 6 with the plural pronoun “we.”
Today’s reading covers one particular night during Paul’s seven days in Troas and then Paul and his companions’ journey across the Aegean Sea en route to Jerusalem, where they hope to arrive for the Feast of Pentecost. Luke tells us that on the first day of the week (Sunday on the Hebrew calendar), Paul and his team gathered with a local church founded by other believers (confer 2 Corinthians 2:12-13). Having in mind to depart the next day, Paul proceeded to teach/preach to them at great length into the early hours of the night. A young man named Eutychus, who sat next to the window, fell asleep and fell out its opening three floors to the ground. Presumed dead by those who rushed to Eutycus’ side, Paul went to investigate. Holding Eutycus in his arms, Paul reassured the fellowship that Eutycus’ “life is in him.” Comforted, they returned to the meeting room, celebrated Communion, and conversed with Paul until daybreak.
Luke then segues to another travelogue of Paul’s ports of call. Paul travels by land to Assos while the rest of the team sails to Assos. Together, they set sail from Assos to Mitylene to Chios to Samos and to Miletus, where Paul will summon and share parting words with the elders of the Ephesus church (Monday’s Daily Focus). Luke closes this segment with a note that Paul did not want to visit Ephesus because he was concerned about further delays that could prevent him from arriving in Jerusalem in time for Pentecost.
Of note: Verse 7 provides the first explicit confirmation of the Christian church’s day of worship being on Sunday. Also, the expression of breaking bread (v.11), based on Paul’s teaching in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:17-34), clearly refers to the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Takeaway: Luke’s language in this passage implies Eutycus was indeed dead. Thus, Luke’s audience, when reading that Paul rushed to the young man, clutched Eutycus in his arms, and pronounced that Eutycus’ “life is in him” (i.e., restored to life), would immediately recall the miraculous raising of a dead young man performed by both Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:18-37. Amazed and relieved, the people celebrated the Eucharist appropriately as a means of thanksgiving for the most marvelous resurrection in history: our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Also, that Paul carried on “conversing” (i.e., dialoguing) with them to daylight would not imply that he spoke too long but that his audience was keen to “break the Word” with Paul as much as the bread.
Our takeaway? There are two. God will reveal himself to us in the coming and going of everyday life with miracles that others might miss because of their lack of knowledge of the Scriptures. Having worked with medical students in campus ministry for ten years, occasionally, a student would share how a once-diseased patient on their rotation inexplicably experienced healing. Of course, the secular medical community would call it a mystery of science, but our students knew better. Indeed, being versed in Scripture and able to recall stories helps us reframe the mysteries of science.
Secondly, it is vital to regularly celebrate Holy Communion, for it gives us another framework to respond to the comings and goings of everyday life. Indeed, the other name for Holy Communion is the Eucharist (which means “good graces”). Whether we are on a high (seeing God moving in miraculous ways) or a low (wondering where God is in my suffering), when we come to the Lord’s table by faith, we will receive his good graces that will help us press through the challenges of our broken world.
Thus, in Christ, we nurture our relationship with him as a fellowship of believers who feast on the Word and the Bread together. And when we do, we might just see a miracle.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and reigns over all creation in glory. We also thank you and your Son for gifting us with the Holy Spirit, who guides us in all truth and wisdom. And we thank you for the community of believers in whom we celebrate your Son and find encouragement. So would you please help us to steadfastly feast on the good graces of your Son, our Living Word and Bread of Life, so we might glorify you and him and grow your kingdom? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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