Page 79 - acts_study_book3

EUTYCHUS’S FALL

Act 20:9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a
deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the
third story and was taken up dead.

This is a teenaged boy. While setting in the room with the lamps, he becomes warm. He
probably fights off sleep for a while but is finally overcome by slumber. He falls from the
window and dies on the pavement below. When the disciples rush to the boy, Paul is right
behind them.

Act 20:10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, "Do not trouble
yourselves, for his life is in him."

And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not your selves (Wuest
Translation: stop wailing); for his life is in him.

Paul falls on the boy as Elijah and Elisha had in their ministries. In Elijah’s case, he had fallen
three times on the son of a widow woman who had fallen ill and died. Afterwards, the boy had
come back to life (1 Kings 17:21).

Similarly, Elisha had brought a boy back to life whose head began to hurt while reaping in a field
with his father. The boy had been carried home and died. After Elisha had lain on the boy, life
returned to the boy’s body (2 Kings 4:34). This is a type of intercession, an exchange of life.
Paul assures the crowd the boy who fell to the ground will live. The people around the young
boy are in hysterics, so Paul quiets them.

PAUL CONTINUES HIS SERMON

Act 20:11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while,
even till daybreak, he departed.

When Paul goes back upstairs, he dines with the disciples and continues his sermon until dawn.

Act 20:12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

Apparently, the boy is well-known. The crowd was not only ecstatic over the miracle, but also
relieved.

PAUL IN MILETUS (13-16)

Paul and his companions continued their travels to Assos, Samos, and Miletus.

Act 20:13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on
board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot.