Paul Raises A Young Man from Dead!
Acts 20 Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas
7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
As Paul continues on his third missionary journey, much of his work is going back to existing groups of believers in different cities and encouraging them. In this chapter, we see his farewell speech given to the Ephesian elders, who he had spent three years equipping to be the shepherds over the flock in Ephesus. He tells them that he will not see them again, as he knows what awaits him in Jerusalem. These words are reminiscent of Jesus' words to his disciples before he went to the cross in Jerusalem. Although Paul is not Jesus, the world has probably never seen a man like Paul as committed to bringing the Gospel to as many people as he could. We would do well to study his life, and learn from his faith and love for the people God entrusted to him.
In the story above, we see Paul teaching the believers in Troas, as he prepared to leave them as well. At midnight, one of the young men began to get sleepy, as Paul talked "on and on". Apparently, like a lot of preachers, Paul was very "loquacious". As the young man fell asleep, he fell out of the window down to his death. But Paul immediately ran down and threw himself on the young man. He said, "Don't worry he is alive." It is amazing to see two things here. The obvious one that Paul raised a person from the dead. Second, that he was seemingly so nonchalant about it. It is as if he gave the impression that it was no big deal. Paul not only talked about the power of Jesus and the kingdom, but he brought it as he healed many and delivered many people from demons.
As we near the end of Acts, we see how potent the early church was. The church was starting to grow and with that came challenges and persecution. That is why Paul came back and visited these new believers, and spent so much time encouraging and teaching them. It was one thing for them to come to faith, but that is only the beginning of their relationship with the Lord. Today, we have a great need to teach people what they believe about Jesus and why. We also need not only to teach the gospel, but live it out and expect supernatural results as we rely on the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that Paul operated in to raise this young man in the faith.
Today is the last day of 2016. I'm sure like me, you have had many challenges, joys and sorrows. But through it all I am sure you could say, "God was faithful". I pray that the Daily Bread has encouraged you in your faith and helped you take a step forward in learning what you believe and living it out in His power. May God bless you and give you an even more Spirit filled 2017!
If you want to give me any feedback on how the Daily Bread blog could be more helpful to you, let me know. Also, I created some new email lists that seem to working better for me. If you only visit the blog periodically and would like to receive a daily email, let me know and I will add you to my list. Also i don't copy a ton of people, but occasionally people report it ends up in people's spam folder.
God bless you and your family and Happy New Year!
7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
As Paul continues on his third missionary journey, much of his work is going back to existing groups of believers in different cities and encouraging them. In this chapter, we see his farewell speech given to the Ephesian elders, who he had spent three years equipping to be the shepherds over the flock in Ephesus. He tells them that he will not see them again, as he knows what awaits him in Jerusalem. These words are reminiscent of Jesus' words to his disciples before he went to the cross in Jerusalem. Although Paul is not Jesus, the world has probably never seen a man like Paul as committed to bringing the Gospel to as many people as he could. We would do well to study his life, and learn from his faith and love for the people God entrusted to him.
In the story above, we see Paul teaching the believers in Troas, as he prepared to leave them as well. At midnight, one of the young men began to get sleepy, as Paul talked "on and on". Apparently, like a lot of preachers, Paul was very "loquacious". As the young man fell asleep, he fell out of the window down to his death. But Paul immediately ran down and threw himself on the young man. He said, "Don't worry he is alive." It is amazing to see two things here. The obvious one that Paul raised a person from the dead. Second, that he was seemingly so nonchalant about it. It is as if he gave the impression that it was no big deal. Paul not only talked about the power of Jesus and the kingdom, but he brought it as he healed many and delivered many people from demons.
As we near the end of Acts, we see how potent the early church was. The church was starting to grow and with that came challenges and persecution. That is why Paul came back and visited these new believers, and spent so much time encouraging and teaching them. It was one thing for them to come to faith, but that is only the beginning of their relationship with the Lord. Today, we have a great need to teach people what they believe about Jesus and why. We also need not only to teach the gospel, but live it out and expect supernatural results as we rely on the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that Paul operated in to raise this young man in the faith.
Today is the last day of 2016. I'm sure like me, you have had many challenges, joys and sorrows. But through it all I am sure you could say, "God was faithful". I pray that the Daily Bread has encouraged you in your faith and helped you take a step forward in learning what you believe and living it out in His power. May God bless you and give you an even more Spirit filled 2017!
If you want to give me any feedback on how the Daily Bread blog could be more helpful to you, let me know. Also, I created some new email lists that seem to working better for me. If you only visit the blog periodically and would like to receive a daily email, let me know and I will add you to my list. Also i don't copy a ton of people, but occasionally people report it ends up in people's spam folder.
God bless you and your family and Happy New Year!
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