119. EUTYCHUS FALLS ASLEEP

"And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted"

Aim

To show how the disciples met on the first day of the week at Troas and how Eutychus was raised to life.

On Paul's second journey he came to Troas, but did not stay there because of a night vision in which God showed him that he was needed in Macedonia (Acts 16:8-9; see Lesson 15). When he returned to Troas he stayed seven days with the ecclesia that had been established there. The brethren from various ecclesias who travelled with him are mentioned in Acts 20:4. Luke, the writer of the Acts, was also with Paul.

Acts 20:7-14

THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IN TROAS (v. 7)

It was the custom of the Jews to observe the seventh day, the Sabbath, for religious worship. God had commanded it (Deut. 5:12). The followers of Christ used to meet as we do on the first day of the week, being the day on which Christ rose from the dead (see v. 7; 1 Cor. 16:2).

We can imagine how thrilled the disciples at Troas were to have Paul with them for the memorial meeting. There would be a reading from the Scriptures and then Paul would give the exhortation. They would be happy also to have visitors with them from other countries, brethren and sisters all united by the one Truth they shared.

So they came together as Jesus had taught his disciples to remember the great love and sacrifice of their Master: "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come" (1 Cor. 11:23-29). Whenever possible all disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ meet every first day of the week to remember his death and resurrection in this way. They need to come together to remember him and to be encouraged to live in a way which pleases God. The hope of the resurrection to eternal life is only for those who continue to be faithful until Christ comes.

In those early days of the Truth, it was the custom of brethren and sisters to have a common meal together after the memorial meeting. For those who were slaves, sometimes working for hard masters, this might have been the one good meal they had all the week.

THE HOLY SPIRIT TURNS TRAGEDY INTO GLADNESS (vv. 8-12)

The meeting was held in an upstairs room and Paul no doubt would have recalled many incidents and lessons from the Old Testament, as the brethren and sisters listened eagerly. He spoke for a long time, but they did not mind, for he was leaving them the following day and this was their opportunity to hear him.

The meeting continued until midnight with many lamps burning in the crowded room. Because the room was crowded, one young many named Eutychus, was sitting on the window ledge listening. Unlike our windows, this was simply an opening in the wall. As Paul went on speaking, Eutychus became drowsy and gradually fell asleep. Suddenly he lost his balance and fell right down from the third floor. Everyone was horrified and rushed downstairs to find Eutychus lying on the ground, dead. Paul, of course, had run down with them to where the young man lay. The brethren and sisters, stunned by what had happened, made way for Paul, who fell on Eutychus and embraced him. The apostle knew that he had been given the power of the Holy Spirit to perform miracles and now he would have prayed to God that this power might be used. God heard his prayer and the lad's life was restored.

Paul turned to the weeping brethren and sisters and said, "Trouble not yourselves, for his life is in him" (v. 10).

With gladness they all returned to the meeting room, where Paul finished his talk and they "broke bread" in memory of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What a terrible and unexpected thing to happen in the middle of a meeting. Imagine, however, the great joy among the disciples when they saw God's power working before their eyes to actually raise this young man from death! How it would have strengthened their faith in God. They would never forget that meeting!

PAUL ENCOURAGES THE BRETHREN AND SISTERS AND DEPARTS (vv. 11-13)

After the memorial meeting the disciples sat down and shared a meal together. Nobody wanted to go home that night, although it was into the early hours of the morning. Paul talked with them till daybreak. The apostle and his companions planned to leave that day for Assos about 30 km away. Paul decided to walk, while the others went by ship. He joined them at Assos and they all continued their journey back to Jerusalem.

LESSON FOR US

The name, Eutychus, means "fortunate". Things certainly did turn out well for that young man, but his greatest blessing was, of course, that he heard the Gospel preached by the apostle Paul and had his life restored. He was given further opportunity to serve God. No doubt Eutychus looked forward to the resurrection when Christ would return, for then he would receive eternal life and never die.

This is our hope too, for we know that Christ will soon return just as he has promised.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Memorial meetings in the early days of the ecclesias were very similar to those today. We try to follow that pattern as closely as possible. Disciples came together to one place, usually the home of a brother or sister (e.g. Rom. 16:4-5, the house of Aquila and Priscilla; Philemon v. 2, the house of Philemon). There was a reading from the Scriptures and an exhortation to encourage them "unto love and to good works" (Heb. 10:24). Prayers were offered and bread and wine were passed around so that each brother and sister could eat and drink in turn. They also sang hymns of praise as we do.

As we learned in last year's lessons, Jesus broke bread and drank wine with his disciples for the first time with a special meaning, just before his crucifixion. He told them that they were to remember him each time they shared the bread and wine together in this way.

Of the bread he said: "This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me".

Of the wine he said: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:19-20).

Only those who have the same hope as the disciples can share the bread and wine in this way. Thus they remember what Jesus did for them when he died on the¹ cross. It also reminds them of his resurrection and the hope they have of resurrection when he returns, because he told them that he would eat and drink with them again "in my Father's kingdom" (Matt. 26:29).

In his epistle to the Hebrews, Paul told them how necessary it was for brethren and sisters to meet together around the Word of God as often as possible, "and so much the more, as ye see the day (of Christ's coming) approaching" (Heb. 10:25). How wise God is in commanding us to do these things. They help to prevent the cares of this life crowding in upon us, causing us to forget the great hope set before us.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. On what day of the week did the disciples meet together at Troas?

2. What did they remember on that day?

3. Who came to speak to them at Troas?

4. What wonderful hope did all the brethren have?

5. What happened to Eutychus as Paul spoke?

6. What did Paul do for Eutychus?

7. How could Paul bring Eutychus back to life?

8. What did Paul do until daybreak?

Detailed Answers

9. Tell all you know about Paul's meeting with the disciples at Troas and what happened to Eutychus.

Additional Answers

10. Tell what you know about the way memorial meetings were conducted in the early days of the ecclesia.

11. (a) Why do brethren and sisters come together each week to eat bread and drink wine?

2. What did Jesus say the bread and the wine represent?

2. When did Jesus say he would do it again?