Act 20:8-12 | KingComments | STEP | Then Luke describes an event that has an important meaning within the context of Paul’s service. We see in what happens to Eutychus the danger that threatens every church and every individual believer. Luke first gives a description of the room in which the believers are together. It is an upper room, somewhere in an ordinary house on the third floor. Nowhere does Scripture mention a specially consecrated building in which Christians gather. Apart from the fact that it is an upper room, Luke mentions that there are many lamps. It may be that he mentions this, so that we can imagine that it is quite warm, because oil lamps not only give light, but also warmth. The conclusion then is that this has contributed to Eutychus falling asleep. That could be the case. It does raise the question of how the others in the room were able to endure it. After all, Eutychus was sitting where he had the freshest air. Because of his position he even blocked the inflow of the much-needed fresh air into the undoubtedly full upper room. Therefore, it seems that the mention of the “many lamps” means more than indicating a natural cause of Eutychus’ fall. Undoubtedly, this history contains a lesson for us. We see that Eutychus has taken a dangerous place. He sits in the window, which means on the border between two worlds. On one side there is the room with lots of light, on the other side he hears below him the entertainment of the world. The word “overcome” indicates that he has not suddenly fallen asleep, but that he has slowly but surely fallen asleep. It becomes his death sleep because he falls down and is picked up dead. He must be raised from his death sleep. That is what Paul does. It is an illustration of what Paul is saying to the believers in Ephesus. He tells them to wake up because they are asleep. They must wake up and rise from the dead ( ). There is as little activity with the sleepers as there is with the dead. The discussion whether Eutychus was really dead or whether his soul was still in him is not so important. It’s about a situation where there is no life visible anymore. We can end up in that situation if the light we have received is not connected to Christ. Life only becomes visible when Christ shines on us. Maybe we should ask ourselves the question: What really keeps me awake? Christians who are nodding off when the sermon lasts for an hour can stay up a whole night to catch some fish, or follow sports events, or attend concerts, or watch lengthy movies. Eutychus was not inside and not outside. Perhaps he had come to see the great apostle once and hear him speak. In this way, even today young people can come to see big names without attending meetings as a custom. Maybe it was a bit disappointing after all and he gradually lost interest in what Paul said. Maybe he saw his friends or thought about them and the nice things he could have done with them, while sitting here in a dull room with dull people listening to a dull sermon. Eutychus had to learn – and each of us has to learn – that it is not the preacher who makes the Word valuable, but the condition of the listener’s heart. Often a fall, a sinful act, is the result of slackening in spiritual things. Before Eutychus falls out of the window, he first falls asleep. In this way we too can fall asleep when we listen to Paul, that is, when we read his letters. The sleep in which the church has fallen and the dead or near-death condition as a result, is also because there is no longer any attention for what Paul has said.

‏ Acts 20:8-12

The Fall of Eutychus

Then Luke describes an event that has an important meaning within the context of Paul’s service. We see in what happens to Eutychus the danger that threatens every church and every individual believer. Luke first gives a description of the room in which the believers are together. It is an upper room, somewhere in an ordinary house on the third floor. Nowhere does Scripture mention a specially consecrated building in which Christians gather.

Apart from the fact that it is an upper room, Luke mentions that there are many lamps. It may be that he mentions this, so that we can imagine that it is quite warm, because oil lamps not only give light, but also warmth. The conclusion then is that this has contributed to Eutychus falling asleep. That could be the case. It does raise the question of how the others in the room were able to endure it. After all, Eutychus was sitting where he had the freshest air. Because of his position he even blocked the inflow of the much-needed fresh air into the undoubtedly full upper room. Therefore, it seems that the mention of the “many lamps” means more than indicating a natural cause of Eutychus’ fall.

Undoubtedly, this history contains a lesson for us. We see that Eutychus has taken a dangerous place. He sits in the window, which means on the border between two worlds. On one side there is the room with lots of light, on the other side he hears below him the entertainment of the world. The word “overcome” indicates that he has not suddenly fallen asleep, but that he has slowly but surely fallen asleep.

It becomes his death sleep because he falls down and is picked up dead. He must be raised from his death sleep. That is what Paul does. It is an illustration of what Paul is saying to the believers in Ephesus. He tells them to wake up because they are asleep. They must wake up and rise from the dead (Eph 5:14). There is as little activity with the sleepers as there is with the dead.

The discussion whether Eutychus was really dead or whether his soul was still in him is not so important. It’s about a situation where there is no life visible anymore. We can end up in that situation if the light we have received is not connected to Christ. Life only becomes visible when Christ shines on us. Maybe we should ask ourselves the question: What really keeps me awake? Christians who are nodding off when the sermon lasts for an hour can stay up a whole night to catch some fish, or follow sports events, or attend concerts, or watch lengthy movies.

Eutychus was not inside and not outside. Perhaps he had come to see the great apostle once and hear him speak. In this way, even today young people can come to see big names without attending meetings as a custom. Maybe it was a bit disappointing after all and he gradually lost interest in what Paul said. Maybe he saw his friends or thought about them and the nice things he could have done with them, while sitting here in a dull room with dull people listening to a dull sermon.

Eutychus had to learn – and each of us has to learn – that it is not the preacher who makes the Word valuable, but the condition of the listener’s heart. Often a fall, a sinful act, is the result of slackening in spiritual things. Before Eutychus falls out of the window, he first falls asleep. In this way we too can fall asleep when we listen to Paul, that is, when we read his letters. The sleep in which the church has fallen and the dead or near-death condition as a result, is also because there is no longer any attention for what Paul has said.

Recovery of Eutychus

It is wonderful and instructive how Paul deals with Eutychus. In the first place Paul goes down to him. He descends to the level of the fallen young man, showing the attitude of the true shepherd. In the second place he falls upon him. He doesn’t shout from the third floor, from his own high position, all kinds of reproaches at the young man, for instance that he shouldn’t have been so stupid as to sit in the window, a place that asks for trouble. No stories about own guilt. That wouldn’t make any sense at all, because Eutychus didn’t hear anything anyway. We shouldn’t approach someone who has gone astray like that. It’s important to descend to his level and then speak to him. By falling upon the young man, Paul identifies himself with him as it were (cf. 1Kgs 17:21-22; 2Kgs 4:34). In the third place, Paul embraces the young man. He makes him feel his love and acceptance instead of rejection.

In this way we can apply the three floors that Paul descends to three steps necessary to bring someone back into fellowship with Christ and the believers. First descend to his level. Then fall upon him, that is to identify with what he did and tell him from that attitude what he did. Finally, embrace him, that is to try to win him in love for Christ against Whom he has sinned.

To the others, Paul tells them not to be troubled. All sorts of excited situations about someone who has deviated are pointless. It is important to support pastoral work with supplicating prayer instead of just talking about the fall someone has made. Through the Spirit Paul gets the power to restore the functions of life. The bonds between soul and body are restored.

After Eutychus’ recovery, Paul goes back upstairs. He is not shocked or upset by what has happened. He did get hungry. That is why he breaks the bread and eats. Breaking the bread here is not the celebration of the Supper, as some interpreters assume. Breaking the bread by one person is an indication for starting an ordinary meal (cf. Acts 27:35). The celebration of the Lord’s Supper is not a personal act, but a communal event. The addition “and ate” makes it clear that Paul here eats food to strengthen his body. Then he talks with them for a long time, realizing that he will not see them again on earth. By daybreak it is time, not to go to bed, but to leave. Paul is a man with an unprecedented energy.

He leaves the believers in Troas with a large supply of teaching and a great comfort through the recovery of Eutychus. Paul’s words and what happened to Eutychus will have served as a powerful impulse for the faith life of the church in Troas for a long time.