College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 20:6-13
AT PHILIPPI. Acts 20:6 a.
And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread,
Acts 20:6 a To arrive here Paul had to make a day's journey off the main road. But the church and the leaders in this place were especially near to the heart of Paul. And then we conjecture that he went to secure Luke as his traveling companion and fellow worker. At any rate, Luke joined Paul here (Luke had been here since his mention in the second journey and they sailed away from the seaport of Neapolis after the days of unleavened bread.
These days of unleavened bread mark the time element in a very good way. Notice two things about it.
1.
Almost a whole year had elapsed since he left Ephesus. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 16:8) Note that he had left Ephesus before Pentecost the previous year. You must know that the days of unleavened bread follow after the eating of the passover, and that the Passover and Pentecost are just fifty days apart. So now it is less than fifty days to Pentecost when Paul sails for Troas.
2.
He only has some forty days to reach Jerusalem with his bounty by Pentecost. This he was determined to do.
There must have been unfavorable winds in the sailing, for it only took one day on a previous voyage; now the same trip took five days.
786.
What is meant by the days of unleavened bread? What import here?
787.
Tell of the sailing conditions from Philippi to Troas?
8.
IN TROAS. Acts 20:6 b - Acts 20:13.
and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we tarried seven days.
And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.
And there were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered together.
And there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, borne down with deep sleep; and as Paul discoursed yet longer, being borne down by his sleep he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.
And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Make ye no ado; for his life is in him.
And when he was gone up, and had broken the bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
And they brought the lad alive, and were not a little comforted.
But we, going before to the ship, set sail for Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, intending himself to go by land.
Acts 20:6 b Paul was in Troas for seven days. Why spend such a length of time here when they were in a hurry to arrive in Jerusalem? No real authoritative answer can be given but it does seem that since they left immediately they waited there until the day came when they could worship with the saints. It could have been that they landed in Troas on Sunday.
b.
The worship on the first day of the week. Acts 20:7.
Acts 20:7 Be that as it may, when the Lord's Day came they gathered together as a church and broke bread or had the Lord's Supper. It would seem from the circumstances that the Jewish reckoning of time was used here and that after sundown on the Sabbath was the beginning of the first day of the week. It could have been that here at Troas as in Corinth a meal was eaten before or in conjunction with the Lord's Supperas some call it the love feast. It was evidently customary to have a discourse at these gatherings and this time they had the priceless privilege of hearing the apostle Paul.
788.
Why spend so much time in Troas?
789.
How do you know a meal was eaten in conjunction with the Lord's Supper?
Acts 20:8-13 The meeting was being held in a third story room and many torches had been set in the sockets around the walls of the room. The windows were naturally open for ventilation and seated on the window sill of one of the openings was a young man named Eutychus.
Someone suggested that this young man had worked all day and that the fatigue of his body overcame his interest in the message of the apostle and that when fully asleep he relaxed and toppled out of the open casement. Whatever was the cause of his sleep he did fall to his death on the street or ground outside the house.
It would seem that Paul was the first to leave the house and hurry around to where the young man lay, Paul treated Eutychus like Elijah treated the widow's son. He compassionately fell on his prostrate form and drew him close to him in his arms. There must have been a prayer ascending from Paul's heart as he did this. Paul looked up to the anxious ones standing around him and said: Trouble not yourselves, for his life is in him. (K. J. V.) Now mark it carefully that Eutychus was taken up before Paul arrived and those that handled him and tenderly laid him out on the ground or whatever, took him to be dead; and without a doubt he was.
Upon returning to the third story room the breaking of bread took place for which they had originally gathered. We might remark that the Lord's Supper here called the breaking of bread was partaken of on Sunday regardless of what time of reckoning for time is used. If you count the time from sundown to sundown (Jewish) it was on Sunday. If from midnight to midnight (Roman) it was on Sunday. Then following the breaking of bread a meal was also takenit usually was so done in the early church.
Paul took up his message following the meal where he had been interrupted and continued speaking even unto the break of day. Even Eutychus managed to participate in the last of Paul's visit. The saints here were greatly strengthened by the preaching and their faith was increased by the restoration of this young man.
Luke was present to hear this lengthy sermon but he only makes mention of the incident with Eutychus and then says that Paul plainly instructed him and the other seven brothers (brethren) to go ahead down to the ship and sail along the coast and pick him up at the town of Assos. Paul wanted to walk from Troas to Assos. Why walk? It was twenty miles or more and Paul had been up all night. He must have been fatigued in body and mind, but as some of you must know, solitude with God is the most restful experience one can find; if not for the body, at least for the spirit. As he walked these twenty miles, over none too easy a road, he had many things to settle alone with God.
790.
Why have the windows open? Why sit in the window?
791.
Why do you think Eutychus fell asleep?
792.
What Old Testament comparison can be made in the raising of Eutychus from the dead?
793.
What do you think about the idea that Paul was first to reach the young man?
794.
Was Eutychus really dead?
795.
How can you prove that the Lord's Supper was on Sunday regardless of the time reckoning?
796.
Why walk instead of going by ship?