Opening: What you ever pulled an all-nighter, either in college or on the job?
Maybe waiting up for news or just couldn’t go to sleep?
Scripture: Read Acts 20:1-16.
Insights:
- After sending Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia (see Acts 19:22), Paul followed.
- Verse 4 is the first time we know who was with Paul on this Third Missionary Journey. In the first journey, it was Paul and Barnabas; in the second, it was Paul and Silas. Now Luke lists seven men (he omits Erastus) from various cities of previous missionary journeys. Most are mentioned only here, except for:
1.
We
know that Trophimus eventually went to Jerusalem, where he was the innocent
cause of the tumult in which Paul was apprehended. Certain Jews from the
district of Asia saw the two missionaries together and supposed that Paul had
taken Trophimus into the Temple (see Acts 21:27-29). In 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul
writes that he had left Trophimus in ill health in Miletus.
2.
While
Trophimus went with Paul to Jerusalem, Tychicus was left behind in Asia,
probably at Miletus (see Acts 20:15,38). Tychicus was with Paul during his
first imprisonment (Colossians 4:7-8; Ephesians 6:21-22). The next reference to
him is in Titus 3:12, where Paul (possibly writing from Ephesus) says he may
send Tychicus to Crete while he goes to Nicopolis. In 2 Timothy 4:12 (written
at Rome during the second imprisonment), he says, “I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.”
Tychicus probably was associated with Titus (2 Corinthians 8:16-24) in
conducting the business of the collection for the poor Christians in Judea.
- Note that Luke has rejoined Paul’s team in verse 5.
- Wow, you thought Gary preached long! The story has a touch of humor with a happy ending.
1.
All
this happened at night. That is probably because it was only at night, when the
day’s work was done, that slaves could come to the Christian fellowship. That
also explains the case of Eutychus.
2.
In
the low upper room it was hot because of the “many lamps.” Eutychus, no doubt,
had done a hard day’s work before ever he came and his body was tired. He was
sitting by a window to get the cool night air. The windows were not made of
glass. They were either lattice or solid wood and opened like doors, coming
right down almost to the floor and projecting over the courtyard below.
3.
The
etymology of the name Eutychus is “lucky, fortunate.” He was probably between
the ages of 8 to 14 years old (the age of a “young man”).
4.
The
tired Eutychus, overpowered by the stuffy atmosphere, succumbed to sleep and
fell to the courtyard below. But it was his “luck” that Paul was there to raise
him from the dead.
Life
Questions:
- Twice in this passage is mentioned that the people meet to “break bread”: on the first day of the week (Sunday), and then the next day. This could have been a church potluck, but most probably means Holy Communion. Clearly it was important to the early believers. Likewise, John Wesley encouraged his followers to take communion as often as possible. What do you think when you come to worship and the bulletin says, “Holy Communion?” Long service? Paul told the Corinthians, “Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are telling others about the Lord’s death until he comes.”[1] That is something to celebrate!
Prayer
Focus: Lord, keep us awake (physically, mentally,
emotionally, and spiritually) to hear Your message for us.
