Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul and the men with him, “sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. 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 in chapter twenty and verse nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep” … who “sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep:” Luke began with the words, “and there sat in a window” which means “and there was seated and fixed in place within an aperture in the wall of the upper room” “a certain young man” or “a particular youthful male human being” “named Eutychus” which means “who was called or known by the name Eutychus which means fortunate”, “being fallen into a deep sleep” or “who was cast or sunk into a profound slumber or sleep”. Luke shared how a “youthful male” whose name was “Eutychus” was sitting within the aperture in the upper room where Paul and the disciples were gathered, and he went to “sleep” while Paul was speaking.
The verse goes on to say, “and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.” Luke continues with the words, “and as Paul was long preaching” which means “and while or during the time Paul, whose name means small or little, was conversing, holding discourse, instructing and teaching for an abundant amount of time”, “he sunk down with sleep” or “he, Eutychus, became weighted down or slumped over from his sleeping”, “and fell down from the third loft” which means “and descended downwards or to the ground from the third floor or roof of the building where Paul and the disciples were meeting”, “and was taken up dead” or “and died”. Luke shared because “Paul” was “preaching” for such a long time, “Eutychus” slumped over in his sleep and fell out of the third story window of the building where they were gathered.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn about a “young man” who fell asleep while “Paul” was “preaching”. Because “Paul” was speaking for such a long time, and it was already midnight, “Eutychus” dozed off, slumped over and fell out of the third story “window” in which he was sitting. Can we imagine how this interrupted that service? Let us remember the “upper room” was located high in the building in which they met, and the lighting they had was “lamps or torches”. “Paul” had a lot to say, and because he was leaving these disciples the next day, he probably went on and on which caused “Eutychus” to fall asleep in the meeting. We shall see what happens with “Eutychus” in our next verse, but for now, by falling out of the third story window, he died. God's gospel of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ does not proceed without interruptions, however, He knows every one of them and when they shall occur. His desire is to have people believe and trust in His Son Jesus so they may be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and be directed by His Holy Spirit even when interruptions arise. Those who study this story should imagine themselves in the place of “Paul, Eutychus and the other disciples” and think about how they would respond if such an interruption occurred in their meetings.
Next time Luke shares how, “Paul went down, and fell on him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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