PAUL SAVES EUTYCHUS' LIFE

Acts 20:7-12 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

It was Sunday, the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, when the Christians of Troas assembled together to worship God, as He commanded in His inspired New Testament doctrine. They met together, as members of the church of Christ to break bread - that is, to observe the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Jesus' death on the cross of Calvary, which ushered in God's plan of eternal salvation. And, as another act of worship, God's inspired gospel of salvation through Christ Jesus was preached unto them by the apostle Paul. Certainly this tells us that, although one becomes a Christian, through belief and obedience to God's call to salvation that concludes with baptism for the remission of one's sins, the study of God's word is essential throughout one's lifetime. As children of God, we should take advantage of every opportunity available to study His Holy Word, both in the privacy of our homes and in study and worship services of the church. It is essential to study the inspired New Testament, which was written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, and was left for us as our personal guide to eternal salvation. Once believed and learned, it alos enabled to teach our families, friends, neighbors, and other Christians the gospel of Christ.

On this occasion the apostle Paul preached unto them ...and continued his speech until midnight. We are not told at what time he began to speak. Therefore, we do not know how long he taught them, but it is assumed by many that it was a rather lengthy sermon. It is evident that the assembly did not conclude till the break of day (Vs. 11). What is unique about this event is the interruption caused by a certain young man named Eutychus. It seems that he attended the service and was seated in the upper chamber ...in a window. As Paul preached, Eutychus had nodded off to sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. Whether Eutychus fell backwards out of the window or inwardly through an open interior court is unknown. Regardless, he fell three stories downward to his death. Realizing what took place, Paul went down, and fell on him, and embraced him, and his life was miraculously restored by God's divine power that was exercised through the apostle Paul. This having taken place, Paul said to the multitude that had gathered around, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. And the Christians that witnessed this miraculous event listened to the teaching of Paul and celebrated the occasion until the dawning of day, receiving great comfort that the young man's physical live was restored by God's power through Paul.

No doubt on this day, and due to Eutychus' life being miraculously restored, the inspired preaching of the apostle Paul was confirmed as the true and holy word of Almighty God. This was truly one of the acts that fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. He told, by his prophetic writings, that the salvation God offered through His Son, Jesus Christ would be confirmed with miracles. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert (See Isa. 35:4-6 and following). Jesus confirmed Himself as the Son of God, and the promised Savior by raising the dead (Luke 7:11-15), healing lepers (Luke 17:11-19), causing the lame to walk (Matt. 9:1-8), healing one having an issue of blood (Matt. 9:18-26), and making the dumb to speak (Matt. 9:32-33), just to name a few of His miracles. And after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, His apostles continued to confirm, on many recorded occasions, the gospel message of salvation they taught with miracles performed in the name of Jesus. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people (Acts 5:12). This we know: the physical salvation of Eutychus assures the spiritual salvation available in Christ Jesus.