Miracle At Troas; Acts 20:7 – 12 Part 2

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

Why this mention of many lights is not apparent. It, however, meets one of the slanders of the early enemies of Christianity, that Christians in their assemblies were accustomed to extinguish all the lights, and to commit every kind of abomination. Perhaps the mention of many lights here is designed to intimate that it was a place of public worship, as not only the Jews, but the Gentiles were accustomed to have many lights burning in such places.

The window was left open, probably to avoid the malice of their enemies, who might be disposed otherwise to charge them with holding their assemblies in darkness for purposes of iniquity. The window was a mere opening in the wall to let in light, as there was no glass known at that time; and as the shutters of the window were not closed, there was nothing to prevent Eutychus from falling down. Some have supposed that he was merely stunned with the fall, and that he was still alive. But the obvious and therefore the safest interpretation is, that he was actually killed by the fall, and was miraculously restored to life. This is an instance of sleeping in public worship that has some apology. The late hour of the night, and the length of the services were the excuses given. But, though the thing is often done now, yet how seldom is a sleeper in a church furnished with an excuse for it. No practice is more shameful, disrespectful, and abominable, than that so common of sleeping in the house of God. Paul fell on him, probably stretching himself out on him as Elisha did on the Shunammite's son, (2Kings 4:33-35). It was an act of tenderness and compassion, evincing a strong desire to restore him to life. His life was restored. This has all the appearance of having been a miracle. Life was restored to him as Paul spoke.

The alarm produced by the death of Eutychus, the astonishing display of divine power in his restoration to life, and the stillness of the midnight hour in which it all transpired, could but add greatly to the solemnity which already pervaded the audience. Their feelings were too deeply wrought upon to think of sleep, and the meeting was still protracted. They returned to the upper chamber, where the lights were still burning, and the elements of the Lord's supper remained as yet undistributed. Paul, notwithstanding the length and earnestness of his discourse, was still unexhausted.